Three Navy frigates to protect Ma during visit to Pengjia Islet
ROC Central News Agency
2012/09/06 22:36:37
Taipei, Sept. 6 (CNA) Three Navy frigates will protect President Ma Ying-jeou during his first visit to Taiwan-controlled Pengjia Islet not far from the disputed Tiaoyutai Islands in the East China Sea on Friday, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Thursday.
The frigates dispatched to ensure the president's safety include Jin Jiang-class, Cheng Kung-class and Knox-class vessels, the ministry said.
During Ma's visit, he will speak on his East China Sea Peace Initiative and call on parties with competing territorial claims in the area to put aside their differences, engage in peaceful discussions and cooperate in developing the resources in the region, according to the MND.
The president is also scheduled to inspect a lighthouse and a weather station on the islet, the ministry said.
Pengjia Islet is located about 56 kilometers off Keelung and lies about 140 kilometers southwest of the disputed Tiaoyutai Islands. It is economically and strategically important because the waters around it are one of the world's four largest fishing areas.
The islet has an area of 1.14 square kilometers and is one of Taiwan's three northernmost islets. The other two, Mienhua Islet and Huaping Islet, have been designated as wildlife protection areas. None of the islets are accessible to ordinary citizens.
The lighthouse and the weather station on the islet, which is administered by Keelung City, were both built by the Japan during the colonial period 1895-1945.
(By Emmanuelle Tzeng, Tang Sheng-yang, Lin Shen-shu and Kendra Lin)
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