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Taiwan navy ships enter Indonesia with flags flying

ROC Central News Agency

2012/04/11 18:40:30

Taipei, April 11(CNA) Taiwan's Fleet of Friendship naval ships entered an Indonesian port with national flag flying, in accordancewith international practice, the Navy Command Headquarters clarified Wednesday in a statement.

The officials were refuting a report in Next Magazine that Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) representative office in Indonesia had caved to pressure from China and instructed the navy fleet to lower their flags before entering Surabaya port for supplies and refueling late last month.

According to the magazine, the ships entered Surabaya port underthe cover of dark, after 6:00 pm on March 22, and left in a hurry the next day.

But the Navy command said the fleet had entered Surabaya port at 10:00 a.m. Indonesia time with all flags on their sterns and bows raised, in accordance with international customs.

Military authorities said that whenever the Fleet of Friendship visits a foreign country it adheres to principles of equality, respect and national integrity.

Missions carried out by the Fleet of Friendship are usually supported by the foreign ministry, they said.

The Fleet of Friendship usually carries navy cadets on a two month pre-graduation training mission, giving them a chance to practice combat skills and navigation. The fleet has sailed to Middle East and South Africa on previous missions.

(By Chen Pei-huang and C.J. Lin)
ENDITEM /pc