Taiwan takes delivery of US anti-sub aircraft

TAIPEI: Taiwan has received the first of 12 anti-submarine aircraft from the United States, as it beefs up its naval defences against China, the military said.

Television footage showed the P-3C Orion patrol aircraft landing at an air base in southern Pingtung county yesterday. Water was then splashed on the plane in a brief welcoming ceremony.

The other 11 planes are scheduled for delivery by 2015, the military said.

Washington agreed in 2007 to sell Taiwan the refurbished P-3C Orionpatrol aircraft, whichreportedly will expand the surveillance range of Taipei’s anti-submarine fleet tenfold.

The P-3C fleet, which will cost around US$1.96bil (RM6.4bil), is intended to replace the island’s ageing S-2T anti-submarine aircraft to carry out maritime patrol and reconnaissance.

Ties between Taipei and Beijing have improved markedly since Ma Ying-jeou became Taiwan’s president in 2008 on a Chinafriendly platform.

However, Beijing still regards the island as part of its territory and has refused to rule out the use of force against Taiwan. The two sides split in 1949 after a civil war.

Taiwan has built up a defence force equipped with weapons acquired mostly from the United States, despite Washington’s switching diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979. — AFP