Taiwan torn on best naval way to repel a China invasion

Taiwan is building a next-generation anti-submarine frigate while stepping up tests of its indigenous submarine amid a rising strategic debate over how best to balance its traditional and unconventional warfighting capabilities.

This month, Naval News reported that Taiwan has begun construction on a new light frigate for the Republic of China Navy (ROCN) with a hard focus on anti-submarine warfare vis-à-vis China, which has persistently threatened to “reunify” the self-governing island by force.

Taiwan’s frigate project, which previously stalled due to budget issues, poor decision-making and the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology’s (NCSIST) inability to develop an AESA radar suitable for the 4500-ton hull, has been reoriented on building two 115-meter-long frigates with displacements of 2,500-3,000 tons.

Naval News mentions that the first ship, the anti-air warfare (AAW) variant, began construction in November 2023. Ten follow-on ships are planned after delivery of the first two prototype ships in 2026.

The frigates will be classed as Tier 2 combat ships for air defense, patrolling the Taiwan Strait, conducting reconnaissance and surveillance missions, escorting transport ships and supplies to remote islands, securing sea lines of communication and supporting military exercises and training.

Both variants were designed by American naval architecture firm Gibbs & Cox, with a variation being proposed for Australia.

The light frigates will be equipped with CMS-330 Combat Management System (CMS), BAE ARTISAN radar, 76mm cannon, TC-2N surface-to-air missiles (SAM), HF-3 anti-ship missiles (ASM), Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) and S-70C ASW helicopters.

At the same time, Taiwan’s first indigenous