75 High-Risk Ships Anchor Off Taiwan: What Are They Hiding?
Taiwanese authorities probe a cluster of 75 ageing vessels lingering near key military bases with no clear purpose.
A cluster of 75 ships has been lingering off Taiwan’s southwest coast since March, with no clear purpose, leaving Taiwanese authorities baffled. The vessels, mostly elderly cargo ships and oil tankers, anchor near key military installations, raising concerns over potential covert operations or illicit activities.
The ships, averaging 75 in number, are concentrated near the cities of Tainan and Kaohsiung, just 15 miles from three major Taiwanese airbases, Pingtung, Tainan, and Chiayi, as well as the Tsoying Naval Base. A smaller group is also gathered further offshore, while another anchorage exists near Taiwan’s northern tip within Internal Waters. The pattern has become more pronounced over the last six months, with vessels arriving, lingering, and departing, only to return later.
Most of the ships are either cargo vessels or oil/chemical products tankers, and a staggering 65 of the 75 fall into the Tokyo MOU’s High Risk category due to their age and degraded seaworthiness. Many fly flags of convenience or outright fraudulent registrations from states like Cameroon, Comoros Islands, Mongolia, Tanzania, Togo, and Sierra Leone. The majority are Chinese-crewed and appear to be owned or managed by companies registered on the Chinese mainland, though only a small number are formally sanctioned.
What’s Happening Off Taiwan’s Coast?
Notable vessels in the cluster include the Sierra Leone-flagged product tanker Huixin (IMO 9175133) and the Tanzanian-flagged Athena (IMO 9063811). Some, like the unflagged Chang Shun (IMO 8964056), have been linked to trade with North Korea or identified as security risks for lingering over internet cables.
The vessels appear to be neither loading nor discharging cargo, nor are they awaiting orders. Most are unladen, raising questions about how their owners can afford to keep them crewed and at sea without revenue. Taiwanese authorities initially suspected the ships might be positioned for hostile intelligence or security purposes, particularly given their proximity to military installations. However, inspections by the Coast Guard within Internal Waters have found no People’s PLA (PLA) personnel or military equipment on board.
A regional security consultancy has suggested that some vessels may be involved in illicit activities, such as smuggling frozen meat or pharmaceuticals into mainland China. The location of the cluster, inside Taiwanese Internal Waters, prevents Chinese authorities from boarding the ships, providing a safe haven for such operations.
Why Are These Ships Here?
The Taiwanese armed forces conducted Exercise Han Kuang in August, a major air and naval drill designed to test Taiwan’s ability to respond to a surprise attack. The presence of the ship cluster near the exercise area has only deepened suspicions about their true purpose. While no single explanation covers the entire group, the pattern of behavior suggests a coordinated effort, whether for intelligence gathering, smuggling, or another covert operation.
For now, the Taiwanese Coast Guard continues to monitor the situation closely, boarding and inspecting vessels within Internal Waters whenever possible. However, without a clear understanding of the cluster’s purpose, authorities remain on high alert.
The international shipping community will be watching closely to see how Taiwan responds, and whether the cluster’s true intentions will ever come to light.
Sign up free to ask CAMAL AI for a summary, the key points or anything else about this story.
Related stories
CAMAL AI
Financial Ports Newsletter
The maritime economy, every morning
Ports, shipping and freight markets in one short email. Free.
