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Report about naval patrol in Indian Ocean not confirmed

ROC Central News Agency

2011/11/17 23:18:13

By Sofia Wu

Taipei, Nov. 17 (CNA) Government authorities would not confirm or deny a media report Thursday that the Navy has organized a fleet that will patrol the Indian Ocean to protect Taiwanese fishing boats operating in the area infested by Somali pirates.

The United Evening News said the fleet was organized on the instructions of the National Security Council (NSC). If all goes well, the paper said, the fleet could embark on the patrol mission as soon as the weekend.

It would mark the first time in the country's military history that a naval fleet has embarked on a two-month mission in the Indian Ocean to protect Taiwanese deep-sea fishing vessels and crew members, the newspaper said.

According to the paper, the fleet will also navigate through the disputed South China Sea to signify Taiwan's sovereignty claim over the region on its way to the Indian Ocean.

However, Ministry of National Defense spokesman Lo Shao-ho declined to confirm the report and instead said it is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) that is in charge of issues regarding the protection of local deep-sea fishing vessels and crewmen.

"The military only follows NSC instructions to carry out its mission in line with government policies," Lo said.

Responding to press inquiries about the report, MOFA spokesman James Chang denied all knowledge about any naval patrol plan.

Military sources, meanwhile, said the Navy has received no orders or notification about any patrol mission in the Indian Ocean.

The sources said the Navy is now preparing for a friendship navigation and naval training mission to Taiwan's diplomatic allies between March and April next year.

People familiar with this regular and routine event pointed out that the Fleet of Friendship and fishery protection missions are fundamentally different.

Making long voyages to protect fishing boats would involve many issues, including sovereignty and fleet resupply, and would not be easy to carry out, the sources noted.

Ruling Kuomintang Legislator Lin Yu-fang said that earlier this year, at the height of the latest South China Sea sovereignty dispute, there were calls for the military to engage in such a mission, but the calls have since died down with the easing of the tension.

On protection of deep-sea fishing vessels and fishermen, MOFA officials said the country has devised a comprehensive mechanism for such a purpose. The country has also maintained close collaboration with international anti-piracy organizations to better protect local fishing boats and personnel, the officials said.