Taipei:Taiwan's Defense Ministry has refrained from commenting on a media report suggesting that the government is considering donating a soon-to-be-decommissioned Navy warship to the Philippines.
According to Focus Taiwan, the United Daily News reported that Taiwan might gift the Navy's 500-tonne-class Jin Chiang Patrol Ship to the Philippines following its decommissioning at the end of this year.
Kuomintang Legislator Ma Wen-chun raised concerns that the potential donation could jeopardize the safety of Taiwanese fishermen in areas where the exclusive economic zones of Taiwan and the Philippines overlap. She noted that, while the ship would likely be disarmed before being handed over, the Philippines could re-arm it and potentially use it against Taiwanese fishermen. Ma referenced a 2013 incident where the Philippine Coast Guard fatally shot a Taiwanese fisherman in the overlapping EEZs.
The primary threat currently facing the Philippines is from China's extensive operations within the Philippine EEZ, often to the detriment of local fishermen. No official confirmation has been provided regarding the possible donation plan, though the Taiwanese Coast Guard recently confirmed the donation of a 500-tonne-class patrol vessel to the Philippines without specifying the reason.
Ma has called on the defense and foreign ministries to clarify their intentions, particularly following controversy over the previous vessel donation. Defense Ministry Deputy Spokesperson Maj. Gen. Chao Fu-chun described the report as speculative and declined further comment, stating that any plans to gift retired military equipment would align with national diplomatic policies.
In related news, the Navy stated there are no changes to the deployment plans or maintenance status of its SM-2 missiles, despite reports indicating they are nearing the end of their service lives. Taiwan has procured 292 SM-2 medium-range surface-to-air missiles from the U.S. since 2004, but only six have been used in live-fire exercises. Navy Chief of Staff Vice Adm. Chu Hui-min assured that the missiles are adequately deployed and maintained, with sufficient numbers to meet operational needs.