Initial Kidd's to Taiwan

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Initial 2 Kidd-class Destroyers Take Their Places in ROC Fleet

 

 

(Source: Taiwan Information service; issued Dec. 19, 2005) (Edited for content)

 

 

The first two of four Kidd class destroyers purchased from the United States arrived at the Suao naval base on the northeast coast of Taiwan Dec. 9 after a month-long journey from Port Charleston in South Carolina. The addition of the destroyers to the ROC Naval fleet is expected to be a shot in the arm to Taiwan's ability to defend itself against China.

 

A formal ceremony to commission the two destroyers has been scheduled for mid-December when President Chen Shui-bian is expected to officiate in his capacity as the commander-in-chief of the ROC armed forces.

 

A handover ceremony was held Oct. 29 in Charleston, South Carolina when the ROC navy formally took possession of the two destroyers from the shipyard. The ceremony, attended by the ROC general, South Carolina's Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer and other U.S. representatives, was a rare event since the United States severed formal diplomatic relations with the ROC in 1979.

 

"The destroyers will significantly boost the navy's fleet air defense and anti-submarine warfare capabilities," Chen was reported as saying in a local newspaper. The navy said that, once commissioned, the refurbished destroyers will form the outer periphery of the defensive fleet, while the Perry, Knox and Lafayette class frigates will be deployed closer to home for a more central defense of the island.

 

Each ship's fitted radar-system is capable of simultaneously tracking dozens of incoming airborne threats and has a range of 400 kilometers. Their Standard II surface-to-air missiles have a range of 144 kilometers and vastly outperform the Standard I missiles with which Taiwan's Perry-class frigates are equipped. According to the navy, the new destroyers will be tasked with taking out enemy fighters that are launching missiles at the island, while other vessels will deal with the incoming missiles themselves.

 

The Kidd class destroyers were originally built in the late 1970s for the shah of Iran, but were commissioned in the U.S. Navy following that leader's ouster in the 1979 Islamic revolution. After 20 years of service, they were decommissioned in the late 1990s until the Taiwan purchase took them out of mothballs.

 

The ROC government purchased the four vessels, at a cost of US$800 million, in June 2003 as part of an arms package approved by U.S. President George W. Bush the previous year. The deal came after a two-year review of Taiwan's air force and navy conducted by the United States.

 

Taipei originally had its eye on the top-of-the-line U.S. destroyers of the Arleigh Burke class, which are equipped with the Aegis battle system capable of intercepting China's M-9 and M-11 missiles. China was infuriated by talk of the sale, as it claims Taiwan as its own territory and opposes any arms sales to the island. Under the provisions of its 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, however, the United States is obligated to sell weapons to Taiwan to help the island defend itself against a Chinese attack.

 

Nevertheless, there was trepidation on Washington's part that selling Taipei the advanced Aegis weapons system would be too provocative to Beijing. There were also concerns about the expense, estimated at US$1 billion per ship, and the ability of Taiwanese forces to operate the complicated system. Finally, there was the fear that a future political solution to the cross-strait conflict would see the advanced technology delivered right into Beijing's hands. Instead, the Bush administration offered the four Kidd class ships, which are expected to remain serviceable for another 20 years.

 

"It is a package to help Taiwan provide for its defense," former White House Spokesman Ari Fleischer was quoted as saying. According to a report released by the Pentagon in July, China has up to 730 ballistic missiles targeted at Taiwan, and that number is increasing by 75 to 125 per year. The report also said that Beijing's rapid military build-up could soon tip the scales against the island and pose a credible threat to the entire region.

 

The purchase of the Kidd class ships gave rise to controversy in Taiwan. Members of the Legislature's defense committee opposed the procurement and made several attempts to block it. Critics suggested that Taiwan should keep pushing for the Aegis system instead, citing the advanced age of the Kidd class vessels and their relatively high cost.

 

The remaining two destroyers, designated Zuoying and Magong, are expected to be transferred to Taiwanese ownership by March 2007.