President Tsai Ing-wen says the launching of Chiayi Vessel has opened a new page in Taiwan’s medical care at sea. Tsai was speaking Tuesday at the ship launching ceremony in the southern port city of Kaohsiung.
The 4,000-ton vessel, built by CSBC Corporation, Taiwan, is Taiwan’s biggest patrol boat. It also has an operation room and cabins equipped with facilities for negative pressure isolation rooms. It can be used as a field hospital and offer humanitarian assistance.
The new boat is part of President Tsai’s plan to build Taiwan’s own military vessels. After coming into office in 2016, Tsai vowed to build newer and faster vessels. Tsai said the manufacturing of Chiayi Vessel not only shows Taiwan’s determination to safeguard its territory, it has also strengthened Taiwan’s shipbuilding industry.
Tsai said Chiayi Vessel is a successful product of international cooperation and a milestone for Taiwan. That’s because the patrol boat can be used at war and during peacetime.