Port of Taichung

Maritime Risk Context

In the last 180 days, ArcNautical recorded 12 vessel arrivals at Taichung, with High-Speed Craft accounting for 22% of port calls — higher than the South China Sea regional average of 7%. Taichung in Taiwan sits along the most heavily contested waters on Earth. More than one-third of global shipping — roughly $3.4 trillion in annual trade — passes through the South China Sea, with overlapping territorial claims from China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. China's artificial-island construction in the Spratly and Paracel archipelagos has expanded the operational reach of its coast guard and maritime militia, both of which have been documented harassing commercial vessels near disputed features. Piracy and armed robbery persist in the southern reaches, particularly between Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Typhoon season (June–November) adds significant schedule and fuel uncertainty for voyages routed through the region.

Read the full South China Sea risk briefing →