Taiwan Launches Final Anping-Class Coast Guard Vessel
Taiwan has launched the Dong Gang, the 12th and final Anping-class patrol vessel built for the coast guard. The 600-ton ship can be used for law enforcement missions during peacetime, including tackling illegal fishing and smuggling, but can also be equipped with missiles and machine guns during wartime. Officials say the vessel will help Taiwan respond to growing gray-zone pressure from China, including maritime incursions and damage to undersea cables linking Taiwan and its outlying islands. The Dong Gang has a range of more than 2,000 nautical miles and a top speed of over 40 knots.
Title: New Coast Guard Ship Strengthens Taiwan's Maritime Defense
REPORTER:
Taiwan’s Coast Guard is adding another 600-ton class patrol vessel, the Dong Gang, to its fleet. In times of peace, it can be used for law enforcement, like tackling illegal fishing or smuggling boats. But in the event of a war, it can be equipped with missiles and machine guns and join the fight.
REPORTER:
It’s the 12th Anping-class vessel, under construction since October 2024. Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling talked up the new vessel’s potential, and how other ships of its class have made a difference at sea.
Kuan Bi-ling (OCEAN AFFAIRS COUNCIL MINISTER):
From gray-zone harassment and incursions
to protecting critical infrastructure
and undersea cables
coast guard personnel are carrying out duties
far beyond traditional law enforcement.
REPORTER:
The Dong Gang has a range of more than 2,000 nautical miles, with a top speed of more than 40 knots. That will help it push back against China’s increasing grey-zone incursions, hostile actions that fall short of outright conflict. That includes illegal Chinese fishing boats in Taiwan’s waters, or Chinese-owned ships cutting undersea cables between Taiwan’s main island and outlying islands.
REPORTER:
In 2025 alone, Taiwan responded to nearly 2,000 maritime incursions. Some reports have recorded a 500% increase in daily incursions by China’s coast guard between 2020 and 2025.
This is the final planned Anping class vessel. They’re in use by Coast Guard units all around the country, from disputed islands in the South China Sea to participating in maritime drills alongside the Navy.
REPORTER:
As China’s grey-zone incursions continue, ships like this one: agile and flexible, will only become more vital to ensuring Taiwan can defend itself, regardless of what form the threats take.
