The Cheng Kung-class frigates are eight guided-missile frigates in service in the Republic of China Navy (ROCN). They are based upon the U.S. Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate and built by China Shipbuilding Corporation in Kaohsiung, Taiwan under license throughout the 1990s as part of the Kuang Hua I project. These frigates served as the mainstay of the ROCN's area air defense capability prior to the acquisition of the Keelung (Kidd)-class destroyers in 2005. They are designated with the hull classification PFG (Patrol Frigate, Guided missile) rather than FFG (Frigate, Guided missile) used by the Oliver Hazard Perry class.
Background
The Kwang Hua I project came out of renewed relations between Taiwan and the United States following the election of President Ronald Reagan. Reagan's government took a harder stance with China and began joint defense projects with the Taiwanese military. Among them was the Kwang Hua I project which was part of a series of new surface warships being transferred from the United States or developed with their aid. Previously, the Republic of China Navy (ROCN) focused their naval efforts on anti-submarine warfare (ASW) due to mainland China's large submarine force. However, later developments of China's surface fleet led to the arming of ROCN warships with surface-to-surface missiles (SSMs).