China’s gray-zone incursions using research vessels and coast guard ships serve as a reminder that Taiwan can only safeguard national security by more fully understanding its own maritime environment. That came from President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Tuesday, August 11, at the launching and naming ceremony for two new ocean survey vessels.

The new vessels have the displacement of 100 and 300 tons and were built under the supervision of Ocean Affairs Council’s National Academy of Marine Research (NAMR). They were named Chengbo 101 (澄波101) and Chengbo 102 (澄波102), or Blue Ocean 101 and Blue Ocean 102 in English, and took around two years to construct.

Lai said at the launching ceremony that Taiwan is a small, mountainous country surrounded by ocean on all sides. The ocean, however, is not a barrier but a bridge connecting Taiwan to the world. Lai added that the launch of the two new survey vessels represents a concrete achievement in realizing Taiwan’s capacity for independent marine survey and research. He said that the vessels’ mission is to map out waters that were previously unknown or poorly understood. They will conduct surveys of marine hydrology, geology, and ecology in coastal areas and shallow waters, as well as near Taiwan’s outlying islands. The data they collect will be used to support marine conservation, disaster prevention, climate adaptation, industrial development, and government decision-making.

Lai also stressed that China has been conducting various forms of gray-zone incursions using research vessels in recent years. He said that it serves as a reminder that only by more fully understanding its maritime environment can Taiwan safeguard national security and work together with the international community to uphold maritime order.