Taiwan Transfers Coast Guard Patrol Vessel to the Philippines
MANILA, PHILIPPINES – An ex-Taiwan Coast Guard Administration patrol vessel is now under a Philippine flag in the most significant maritime security development between Taipei and Manila in recent years. The decommissioned Kinmen, one of four 500-ton Taipei-class patrol vessels commissioned between 2001 and 2008, appeared registered under the Philippines with the name BLING NO.1 on Sept. 16. Maritime tracking website VesselFinder placed the patrol vessel at the Southern Taiwanese port city of Kaohsiung, home to the bulk of Taipei’s Navy and Coast Guard vessels. The Coast Guard Administration of Taiwan clarified last week that the vessel transfer was based
Ex-Kinmen (CG-123). Taiwan Coast Guard Administration photo MANILA, PHILIPPINES – An ex-Taiwan Coast Guard Administration patrol vessel is now under a Philippine flag in the most significant maritime security development between Taipei and Manila in recent years.
The decommissioned Kinmen, one of four 500-ton Taipei-class patrol vessels commissioned between 2001 and 2008, appeared registered under the Philippines with the name BLING NO.1 on Sept. 16. Maritime tracking website VesselFinder placed the patrol vessel at the Southern Taiwanese port city of Kaohsiung, home to the bulk of Taipei’s Navy and Coast Guard vessels.
The Coast Guard Administration of Taiwan clarified last week that the vessel transfer was based on the precedent of previous donations of retired patrol ships to partners such as the Marshall Islands, Palau and Tuvalu. Another statement from the maritime security agency on Sept. 20 said the transfer agreement stipulates that the former cutter “will never be used for law enforcement against Taiwanese fishing vessels.”
This week, the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Foundation officially handed over the deed of ownership of the vessel to the Philippine Coast Guard in Manila. The Tuesday ceremony revealed that ex-Kinmen will be used for training purposes and missions around Mindanao, a Southern Philippine island located away from the South China Sea and Luzon Strait.
All crew-served weaponry was removed before its transfer to Philippine service, according to media released by the WPS Foundation.
The Taiwanese-origin training ship transfer comes ahead of the Philippine Coast Guard’s planned 45 patrol vessel procurement plan. In the coming years, the service will receive 40 patrol boats from France and five cutters from Japan through loan assistance schemes.
“This donation is about saving lives, protecting our seas and building the capacity of the men and women of the Philippine Coast Guard. We are proud to have turned over a platform that will serve Filipino fishermen, mariners and coastal communities,” said Jeffrey Ordaniel, president and CEO of the WPS Foundation, in a social media post.
The nonprofit handling the transfer has previously hosted numerous conferences advocating for Philippine claims in the South China Sea, specifically within the western exclusive economic zone waters that comprises its namesake. Kinmen’s Taiwanese origins were not highlighted in the WPS Foundation’s release. However, photos on Ordaniel’s social media page showcased the initial inspection of the vessel at Kaohsiung at an unspecified date.
Google Earth imagery shows that Kinmen appeared at the location of the foundation’s visit between April and June of this year.
A Philippine government source granted anonymity to speak to USNI News said that Taipei sent a list of vessels – including Coast Guard Administration patrol ships – to Manila in between 2022 and 2024 during the early years of Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s presidency. It is unclear whether the transfer of Kinmen was as a result of this list or if any ships were selected by the Philippine government.
In 2027, Taipei plans to send up to 100 Coast Guard personnel to the Philippines for a goodwill mission.
The nature of the transfer between Taipei and Manila through a non-governmental organization highlights the slowly, and silently, growing cooperation in defense and security. This work has been increasing amid mutual threats from China and concerns of how a cross strait conflict may impact the broader region.
