Taiwan may send 3,000-ton patrol ships to Taiping

Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration has not ruled out posting 3,000-ton patrol ships at Taiping or Itu Aba, the largest of the disputed Spratly islands in the South China Sea, after a pier is completed there in late 2015, the deputy chief of the administration Cheng Chang-hsiung said Wednesday.
When completed, the pier will be able to accommodate 3,000-ton vessels on its outer side and ships up to 1,000 tons on its inner side, Cheng told lawmakers during a legislative hearing.After tests are conducted to determine the pier's ability to resist large waves, the administration may dispatch larger vessels including two recently built 3,000-tons patrol and rescue ships, the Yilan and the Kaohsiung, he said.

The administration has discussed posting naval frigates there with the navy, though he said no decision has been made on the matter yet.Located about 1,600km from the southern port city of Kaohsiung on Taiwan's main island, Taiping is the southernmost territory administered by the Taiwanese government. It is currently manned by Taiwanese Coast Guard personnel.
The Spratlys are claimed variously by Malaysia, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, China and Brunei. Taiping is the only island to be administered by Taiwan.