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Taiwan coast guard ship sails with Palau fleet during ocean conference

ROC Central News Agency

04/16/2022 09:54 PM

Taipei, April 16 (CNA) An armed patrol vessel from Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration sailed as part of a Palauan patrol flotilla during the recent two-day Our Ocean Conference (OOC) in the Pacific island nation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Saturday.

According to MOFA's press release, the 2,000-tonne cutter Tainan (CG126) helped safeguard Palauan waters with the island nation's coast guard fleet on Wednesday and Thursday.

Palau is one of only 14 states with which Taiwan maintains diplomatic relations.

MOFA said Taiwan and Palau held a joint flag-raising ceremony on Saturday to mark the milestone in the two countries' diplomatic relations as it was the first joint sea patrol conducted by them.

The ceremony was led by the leader of Taiwan's delegation to the OOC, Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) Minister Chang Tzi-chin (張子敬), and Palau's Minister of Public Infrastructure and Industries Charles Obichang.

Chang said that he was grateful for the Taiwan patrol cutter's completion of its international mission, and that he was proud to be able to witness the cutter in the waters of Palau.

Speaking on behalf of Palau's Vice President Uduch Sengebau Senior, Obichang said Taiwan helped Palau successfully host the 7th OOC, and that the joint effort between Taiwan and Palau's coast guard vessels was symbolic of the nations' friendship.

The OCC in Palau marked the first time that Taiwan has been able to send an official delegation to the annual event, which MOFA said is committed to taking concrete and significant actions to protect the ocean.

Taiwan's delegation had previously participated in the OCC only as an "NGO," and its EPA minister participated in the conference in a personal capacity.

The Taiwanese delegation to this year's conference was also listed as one of the participating "Countries/Authorities" under the name "Taiwan" instead of "Republic of China (Taiwan)," which includes Taiwan's official name, on the OCC website, with MOFA saying no reason had been given for the change.

(By Huang Ya-shih, Joseph Yeh and James Lo)

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