TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan military took delivery of the first domestically-built Yushan landing platform dock (LDP) on Friday (Sept. 30) in the presence of President Tsai Ing-wen. Speaking at the ceremony in Kaohsiung, President Tsai stressed the importance of strengthening Taiwan's self-defense capabilities amid soaring cross-strait tensions.
"Under China's military threats, only by strengthening our self-defense capabilities can there be real peace," she said. The Yushan landing platform dock is a 10,600-ton amphibious multi-mission vessel that can carry up to 673 military personnel and travel at a maximum speed of 21 knots.
According to the president, the vessel is suitable for combat missions, rescue operations and humanitarian assistance.
The newly-delivered LDP also boasts MK-75 76mm guns and MK-15 Phalanx close-in weapons systems. The ship also features four TC-2N air defense missile launching systems and 32x TC-2N medium-range air defense missiles, the ministry of defense said.
Although the ministry hasn't confirmed when the new ship will enter into service, it's clear that Taiwan authorities intend to put it to great use in the near future.
