Taiwan to build heavily-armed stealth corvette next year

Taiwan’s vice defense minister Lin Yu-pao told parliament that construction will start next year for a prototype stealth missile corvette armed with eight Hsiung Feng II and eight Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missiles.

The 450-ton twin-hulled boat will be capable of defending Taiwan’s interests in the Spratly islands, Taiwan’s navy chief added.

The ship is expected to be completed in 2014.