Taiwan Enters South China Sea Fray with New Coast Guard Vessels

Taiwan has reinforced its claims in the contested South China Sea with the commissioning of additional coast guard vessels.

Reuters reports the ships are intended to make a statement, as they are the largest vessels in the Taiwanese Coast Guard. The vessels are 3,000 tons and named the Ilan and Kaohsiung, according to Focus Taiwan.

Reuters reports that the vessels will be able to dock at the island of Taiping in the Spratly Islands once work on a port on the island is completed. That island is the largest naturally occurring island in the island chain. The island is also home to a 1,200 yard airstrip.

Taiwan says it does not seek a military role in the area, and the vessels will be used to only enforce maritime law. Trade worth roughly $5 trillion annually passes through these waters.

One of the vessels will be used to patrol Taiwan's northern waters, while the other will be sent to Taiping and the Spratlys, which lied to the south.

Taiping is unique among the Spratly Islands because many of the formations that make up the archipelago are reefs or atolls. China and Vietnam have begun dredging operations to build upon these formations and establish defensive fortifications, drawing rebukes from the United States, which believes the area should be freely navigated.

The islands are contested by a number of countries in addition to Taiwan. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, and China have all laid claims and established defensive structures.

China's construction in the region has proceeded so quickly, that historical enemies in the region have been establishing closer ties. For example, the Philippines and Vietnam navies played a friendly game of soccer and sang karaoke together on an island they have each fought over and seized from each other.