Taiwan demonstrated its ability to use coastal patrol boats for firing anti-ship missiles on September 22, 2026. In this test conducted on Friday, the Qijin coastal patrol boat fired the supersonic Hsiung Feng III missile at an old Taiwanese Navy vessel. The missile traveled approximately 50 nautical miles and hit its target.
Details of the Anti-Ship Missile Firing Test
After firing the Hsiung Feng III missile, another unit of the Coast Guard also fired the subsonic HF-2 missile. The Qijin boat is part of the high-speed Anping class, with 10 out of 12 boats in this class currently active. These boats have the capability to carry 16 missile launchers and can easily transition to this role during wartime.
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The Taiwanese Navy has only a few dozen ships capable of firing anti-ship missiles. By adding 12 more hulls, each equipped with 16 launchers, this capability will significantly increase and help strengthen Taiwan's defensive capabilities.
The Role of the Coast Guard in National Defense
Many coast guards around the world have taken on military roles, although this is common during wartime. The United States Coast Guard temporarily installed Harpoon anti-ship missiles on some of its largest boats in the 1980s but later discontinued this practice. During wartime, the U.S. Coast Guard typically joins the Navy and engages in combat missions such as escorting convoys and anti-submarine warfare.
China's Coast Guard operates the largest fleet of maritime patrol boats in the world, some of which are larger than the largest destroyers and aircraft carriers of the U.S. Navy. These boats are considered warships on standby and operate under China's military command structure. Although officially recognized as a law enforcement agency, their duties also include quasi-military missions in the waters of neighboring countries.
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