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TAIPEI — Taiwan plans to expand a pier on one of the disputed Spratly Islands, officials said Sunday, as the rest of the claimants beef up military deployment in the South China Sea.
The Coast Guard Administration has budgeted Tw$19 million ($640,000) to evaluate the project, which is part of its efforts to boost defense capabilities in the disputed area this year.
“The fund will mainly be used to do an environmental impact study near Taiping Island,” a coast guard official told AFP.
The fortified island, under Taiwan’s control, is the largest in the disputed South China Sea area.
The United Evening News said the expanded pier would allow port calls by the coast guard’s 2,000-tonne frigates. The current pier provides facilities only to small patrol boats.
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