Taiwan Transfers Decommissioned Patrol Vessel to the Philippines

According to a report in USNI News, a maritime patrol vessel decommissioned from the Taiwan Coast Guard Administration was recently transferred to the Philippines, marking what is considered the most significant maritime security development between Taipei and Manila in recent years. The ship, which previously served as the Kinmen, is one of four 500-ton Taipei-class patrol vessels that entered operational service between 2001 and 2008.

The vessel was recently registered under the Philippine flag under the updated name BLING NO.1 and was tracked via maritime tracking systems in the southern Taiwanese port city of Kaohsiung, the primary home base for most of Taiwan’s naval and coast guard vessels.

The transfer of ownership was officially completed during a ceremony in Manila, where the nongovernmental West Philippine Sea Foundation handed over ownership documents to Philippine Coast Guard representatives. Officials stated during the event that the vessel will primarily be used for training, crew instruction, and routine security missions around the southern Philippine island of Mindanao. This location keeps the vessel relatively far from volatile friction points in the South China Sea and the Luzon Strait.

According to the Philippine organization, all crew-served weaponry previously mounted on the vessel was completely removed prior to its handover and commissioning.

The Taiwan Coast Guard Administration noted that the transfer follows the precedent of donating decommissioned patrol vessels to friendly Pacific island nations, such as the Marshall Islands, Palau, and Tuvalu. However, the special transfer agreement between the parties includes a binding clause stipulating that the vessel will not be used under any circumstances for law enforcement actions against Taiwanese fishing vessels operating in the region. A Philippine government official noted that between 2022 and 2024, Taipei provided Manila with a list of vessels proposed for transfer to assist the Philippines in building its maritime capabilities amid mounting regional security challenges.

The acquisition aligns with an extensive expansion plan by the Philippine Coast Guard, which aims to acquire 45 new patrol vessels in the coming years. Under these procurement plans, the country is set to receive approximately 40 patrol boats from France and five additional vessels from Japan through special financing and aid programs. Leaders of the Philippine organization managing the transfer emphasized that the donation is intended to save lives, protect the maritime domain, and build local maritime capacities while supporting Philippine fishermen and coastal communities.

Conducting the transfer through a nongovernmental entity highlights the quiet, strategic cooperation developing between Taipei and Manila. Both nations share serious concerns over China’s maritime power projection and growing anxiety regarding the regional security impact of a potential conflict in the Taiwan Strait. As part of strengthening ties, Taiwan also plans to send a delegation of approximately 100 coast guard personnel on an official visit to the Philippines in 2027 to bolster coordination, enhance operational cooperation, and address shared security challenges.