Taiwan's Coast Guard is pushing back on claims that its multi-billion-dollar shipbuilding program is producing vessels with nowhere to dock and no crews to sail them — a defensive response that does not fully settle the concerns.

• An audit found that 96% of Coast Guard vessels are staffed below their required crew levels.
• The fleet is set to grow from 28 ships to 50 by 2033, while dock spaces rise only from 25 to 33.
• That gap could force ships to tie up side by side, which raises safety risks.
• The Coast Guard says crewing and docking are running normally and that old vessels are being retired as new ones arrive.
• Fixes on the table include hiring through police academies and special exams, renting space at commercial ports, and sharing naval harbors.

Outlook: Pressure will build as more ships arrive faster than berths and trained crews, with lawmakers pushing drones as a stopgap.