A TikTok video titled “U.S. Naval Auxiliary Prepares to Refuel Taiwanese Ship” went viral in Taiwan on March 21, 2025. Although the video was originally uploaded on February 18, it only began gaining widespread attention in Taiwan a month later.
The footage appears to show a U.S. Navy replenishment ship sailing ahead of another vessel resembling a U.S. Navy San Antonio-class landing platform dock (LPD)—except for one notable detail: its hull number, “1401,” which identifies it as a ship from Taiwan Navy.
The uploader, who identified themselves as a Merchant Marine Deck Officer working with the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command (MSC), claimed to have filmed the scene during operations. MSC is the U.S. Navy’s organization responsible for the operation of non-combatant, civilian-crewed ships that provide critical logistical support, such as resupply and transport, to naval forces.
Speculation surrounding joint military activity between the U.S. and Taiwanese navies isn’t new. On May 14, 2024, Reuters cited an anonymous source claiming that secret joint drills between the two navies had taken place in the Pacific the previous April. While military cooperation between the U.S. and Taiwan is well known among the Taiwanese public, most details remain classified. The United States has traditionally exercised caution in avoiding overt military interaction with Taiwan, despite being the island’s primary arms supplier under the Taiwan Relations Act.
Reactions from Taiwanese officials in response to the video have indirectly fueled speculation that such exercises may be occurring behind the scenes. Taiwan’s Navy Command Headquarters told the state-run Central News Agency (CNA) that the Navy follows the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES), a U.S.-promoted framework designed to reduce the risk of misunderstandings at sea. The statement noted that the Navy may establish communication and conduct passing exercises in accordance with situational needs.
When questioned by the media, Taiwan’s Minister of National Defense, Wellington Koo (顧立雄), stated: “We have rules for unplanned encounters at sea and will respond accordingly.”
About Yushan-class Landing Platform Dock
U.S. and Taiwan Naval Interaction Raises Eyebrows After Viral Video
LPD Yu Shan during sea trials (Photo courtesy of “Taiwan Ships Watchers” facebook.com/TaiwanShipsWatchers)
Taiwan’s Yushan-class LPD is heavily inspired by the U.S. Navy’s San Antonio-class design. The vessel is 153 meters long, has a beam of 23 meters, a draught of 6 meters, and a full-load displacement of 10,600 tons. It can reach a maximum speed of 22 knots.
The lead ship, Yushan (LPD-1401), is equipped with 32 TC-2N medium-range air defense missiles (arranged in four 8-cell launchers), a 76mm naval gun, and two Phalanx Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWS). It also features a flight deck and two hangars capable of supporting S-70C(M) anti-air warfare helicopters.
The Yushan-class LPD is designed for both military and humanitarian missions. It serves as a command vessel for amphibious operations and acts as the centerpiece of amphibious task forces tasked with retaking offshore islands. It can also function as a mothership for minelayers, a mobile maritime field hospital, and a general logistics ship capable of resupplying islands without port infrastructure. Disaster relief and international humanitarian aid are considered secondary missions.