Taiwan launched its first indigenously designed LPD, Yu Shan, in Kaohsiung on 13 April. The 10,600t vessel being built by CSBC Corporation is named after the tallest peak in Taiwan, and it is the largest naval vessel to be constructed in Taiwan. The LPD will carry Taiwanese marines for landing operations, plus it can resupply Taiwan’s outlying islands and territories in the South China Sea. Furthermore, the vessel would have utility in a disaster relief mission too. Dr Collin Koh, a Research Fellow at the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies at the RSIS  in Singapore, commented: ‘Before you question the utility of such a vessel in an asymmetric defence posture, consider how useful it could be for maintaining and reinforcing Taiwan’s offshore possessions, e.g. Itu Aba.’ He added, ‘And there’s also institutional culture to consider. ROC Navy has operated at least one LPD all this while throughout its decades of existence. It’s not a white elephant, but an asset that does have practical use, even if it could still be seen as vulnerable to growing PLA threats.’