‘I’ve got your backs,’ Taiwan president tells sailors on combat-ready warship



PENGHU: Taiwan President Lai Ching-te advised sailors aboard a combat-ready warship at a serious base within the Taiwan Strait on Friday that he had their backs, thanking them for safeguarding Taiwanese safety at a time of heightened tensions with Beijing.
China, which claims democratically ruled Taiwan as its personal territory over the sturdy objections of the federal government in Taipei, detests Lai as a “separatist” and staged battle video games across the island in Might shortly after his inauguration.
Talking to sailors on board the warship Cheng Ho on the Magong base on the Penghu islands within the Taiwan Strait, Lai mentioned the navy units nice retailer on all working collectively as one.
“As commander in chief of the three providers, I need to stress that the federal government will again all of you,” he mentioned, on a message broadcast all through the ship by loudspeaker.
The Cheng Ho – named after a Ming dynasty Chinese language admiral and explorer – is a Taiwan-built warship primarily based on the design for the US Oliver Hazard Perry class of frigates.
A reside RIM-66 Commonplace missile stood prepared in its launcher on the ship’s bow as Lai spoke onboard.
Talking to officers shortly afterwards at a lunch on base, Lai mentioned the federal government was dedicated to additional bettering the armed forces weapons.
Penghu can be house to an essential air base, from which Taiwanese air power jets commonly scramble to shadow Chinese language navy plane and warships working round Taiwan.
Lai reviewed troopers at an air defence facility close to the air base, watching a drill with a set twin-mount Stinger surface-to-air missile, designed for close-in defence.
China’s navy has up to now launched video of the Penghu islands showing to indicate it taken by its air power, which Taipei described as “cognitive warfare”.
Penghu, a summer season vacationer vacation spot for its seashores and crystal-clear water, is near Taiwan’s southwestern coast, in contrast to the Taiwan-controlled Kinmen and Matsu islands, that are proper subsequent to the Chinese language coast. Lai has repeatedly provided talks with Beijing, however has been rebuffed. He says solely Taiwan’s individuals can resolve their future.





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