Free Republic

Taiwan on Tuesday put into service its first missile boats featuring what the navy described as "stealth" technologies, aimed at boosting defence capabilities against rival China. The squadron of 10 guided-missile boats, seen by top brass as a major improvement on Seagull vessels which have been in service for the past 20 years, joined the navy at the Tsuoying naval base in the south of the island. "Its combat capabilities are much superior to the 50-tonne Seagull-class missile boats," the navy said in a statement released ahead of a ceremony in Tsuoying. "The new home-made weapons system is expected to...