Kaohsiung: President Lai Ching-te on Sunday called for bipartisan support for a special budget aimed at enhancing the Coast Guard's emergency response capabilities. This appeal came during joint exercises conducted by the Coast Guard and the Navy in Kaohsiung.
According to Focus Taiwan, President Lai emphasized the critical role of the Coast Guard in law enforcement and safeguarding Taiwan's citizens against China's persistent gray zone activities. These activities involve nontraditional methods that strategically avoid overt conflict while achieving specific objectives.
With growing challenges in the waters around Taiwan, Lai stressed the necessity of increased governmental investment in coastal defense. The Cabinet has proposed a NT$410 billion (US$13.6 billion) special budget, which includes funding for constructing new marine vessels and drones, developing a smart coastal monitoring system, upgrading Coast Guard equipment, and investing in talent cultivation.
The proposed funding specifically targets an infrared thermal imaging night vision system to enhance coastal monitoring at night and the strengthening of UAV systems to improve defense capabilities across sea, land, and air. Lai urged lawmakers from all parties to support the budget proposal, ensuring that the Coast Guard has access to advanced equipment and technology for national security.
Despite the NT$410 billion budget proposal, only NT$150 billion is allocated for security resilience, including Coast Guard enhancements, which might complicate the proposal's approval. Additional funds in the bill are designated for businesses affected by United States tariffs (NT$93 billion) and to subsidize Taiwan Power Co.'s losses (NT$100 billion), both of which face opposition from lawmakers.
The joint exercise included participation from the Coast Guard Administration (CGA), the Air Force's Air Rescue Group, the Navy's Antisubmarine Aviation Command, and the National Airborne Service Corps. The drill featured four large ships, seven smaller vessels, three helicopters, and one drone, and was conducted in three phases: a maritime interception drill, a helicopter rescue drill, and an aerial flyover and ship formation.
Taiwan's CGA oversees waters within 24 nautical miles of its coastline, while the Navy is responsible beyond that range. The two-hour drill concluded with an open house event at the Kaohsiung wharf, allowing participants to explore the CGA's 4,000-ton vessel, the "Yunlin," and other vessels.
The event was held in celebration of National Oceans Day in Taiwan, observed on June 8, the same day designated by the United Nations as World Oceans Day. Taiwan enacted the Ocean Basic Act in 2019, marking June 8 as National Oceans Day.