Taiwan is giving its coast guard a raise and new ships next year, a positive move for coast guard personnel and Taiwan's maritime defense as tensions with China's coast guard stay high.

• Premier Cho Jung-tai announced six new job allowances for coast guard personnel, funded by NT$16 billion in next year's budget.
• The extra pay covers sea duty, offshore and long-distance voyages, investigation work, special forces, anti-smuggling patrols, and dangerous civilian jobs.
• Ten new patrol vessels will join the fleet next year, including one 1,000-ton cutter, and money is set aside to build a 2,000-ton ocean patrol ship.
• More funding goes to special equipment to fight smuggling and human trafficking rings.
• Cho praised the coast guard ship Yunlin for facing down a Chinese coast guard vessel and declaring Taiwan a sovereign, independent state not under Beijing's rule.

Outlook: Taiwan will keep boosting coast guard pay and equipment as it faces more frequent standoffs with Chinese ships at sea.