– USNI News – China issued a strong statement against a planned sale of U.S. Oliver Hazard Perry frigates to Taiwan that was singed into U.S. law on Thursday.

– USNI News – Taiwan will start building a new fleet of six mine counter measure (MCM) ships with help from Lockheed Martin and Italian shipbuilder Intermarine S.p.A., Lockheed announced last week during the EURONAVAL 2014 show in Paris.

– USNI News – Since the 1996 Taiwan Straits crisis, when China tried to intimidate the island by testing missiles in waters near Taiwan and the United States responded by sending two carrier battle groups to the region, Beijing has built up its naval forces of conventionally powered submarines, corvettes, and frigates to influence events in “the first island chain” off its coast—and looks to extend its reach by 2050 to the Mariana Islands with nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers.

– Navy Recognition – At TADTE 2013, the Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition, ROC Navy (Republic of China – Taiwan) unveiled a vessel currently under construction by the Lung-De Shipbuilding Corporation dubbed the “High Efficiency Wave Piercing Catamaran (WPC)”

– AFP – Taiwan’s navy said Tuesday it would not scrap scheduled patrol missions to disputed islands in the South China Sea, despite a flare-up of regional tensions in the contested waters.

Kyodo News Service – $6.5B Navy arms deal to Taiwan near complete

The U.S. Navy and Lockheed Martin Corp. reached agreement this week on a $1.3 billion deal to refurbish a dozen P-3C antisubmarine aircraft for sale to Taiwan, the “last step” forward in a major arms deal stalled since 2007.

Armed Forces Journal – The strengths and weaknesses of Taiwanís defense strategy emerge.
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BBC – Taiwan has formally commissioned into service two US-built naval destroyers aimed at boosting the island’s defences against any attack from rival China.
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Deutsche Presse Agentur – Taiwan has taken delivery of the last two of a purchase of four Kidd-class destroyers from the United States.
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China Post – The United States has delivered to Taiwan two of the four Kidd-class destroyers Taipei has ordered in a move to boost the island’s defenses against rival China.
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Agence France-Presse – Taiwan plans to equip its two Dutch-built submarines with Harpoon anti-ship missiles that could be used to attack key Chinese naval bases.
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Sea Power – As China bolsters its forces, Taiwan reduces conscription and adopts an attitude on defense preparedness that can only be described as blasÈ.

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Taiwan News – Two of four Kidd-class destroyers purchased from the United States are expected to be delivered to Taiwan by the end of the year.
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BBC – A Taiwanese warship visited disputed fishing grounds on Tuesday, after Taiwanese fishermen complained of harassment by Japanese patrol boats.
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China Post – Why Taiwan must improve its navy.
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ABC – Three Taiwanese naval vessels are to visit a number of Pacific island nations as part of what is being dubbed a world ‘gunboat diplomacy’ tour.
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Taipei Times – Taiwan continues to struggle over which anti-submarine weapons it should purchase.
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Taipei Times – The new leader of Taiwan’s navy is???a Marine???

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Taipei Times – Should Taiwan buy used Sauro-class submarines from Italy, rather than buying new submarines from the US?
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Washington Times – The latest in the “submarines for Taiwan” saga.
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Taiwan News – While China’s Navy with its large number of surface ships and submarines can be an intimidating force, the Taiwan Navy sees its own Knox-Class frigates of the 168 Fleet as an ace in the hole.
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Reuters – The United States will announce the sale of four Aegis missile-defense warships to Taiwan next year with delivery likely to begin in 2011.
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