A "Friendship Flotilla" of three Taiwanese naval vessels returned to Tsoying Naval Base in southern Taiwan yesterday after circumnavigating the globe and making port calls at several of Taiwan's diplomatic allies.
The 105-day, 55,500km journey marked a watershed in the history of the nation's naval service, setting a record for the longest distance traveled in a single deployment.
The three ships that comprised the flotilla were the Lafayette-class frigate Kang Ding, the Perry-class frigate Chi Kuang and the fleet oiler Wu Yi.
PHOTO: CNA
The journey was meant to demonstrate the capabilities of the navy, provide valuable training for the 700-member crew of sailors and marines and boost relations between Taiwan and its diplomatic allies, naval Captain Sheng Chi-lun (
"The mission was very successful," he said.
The flotilla set out on March 7, traveling west through the Malacca Strait and the Indian Ocean to the Suez Canal. It continued its journey through the Mediterranean Sea and along the coast of West Africa, where it made its first port call in Senegal -- one of Taiwan's diplomatic allies -- on April 16.
There, the crew gave demonstrations of martial arts and precision drills, as well as hosting a number of events designed to inform people about Taiwan and the role of the navy and marine corps.
The Wu Yi was transformed into a floating information center, complete with videos, models and displays documenting Taiwan's history and attractions.
The flotilla then cruised to Gambia, where it held similar events. The next stop was St. Vincent and the Grenadines, followed by the Dominican Republic and then through the Panama canal. All four countries formally recognize Taiwan.
Finally, the three ships crossed the eastern Pacific, making their way to the capital of Kiribati, Tarawa atoll. From Tarawa, the trips traveled to two more allied countries, Marshall Islands and Palau, before returning to Tsoying yesterday.
"The crew did a wonderful job, and their morale was very high," the commander of the flotilla, Admiral Fan Pao-hua (
In each country that the ships visited, the sailors and marines received a warm welcome, Sheng said.
The mission also received a lot of support from Taiwanese embassies and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he added.
Another purpose behind the cruise was to test the navy's long-range combat capabilities. This included conducting electronic warfare, logistical and night-combat drills, Fan said.
Amid a throng of family members and media, the flotilla's crew held a homecoming ceremony beside the Kang Ding yesterday, which lay at berth in Tsoying.
The ceremony was attended by a constellation of naval brass, including the service's commander-in-chief, Marine General Chen Pan-chih (
Chen lauded the crewmembers for their contribution to Taiwan's security and congratulated them on their successful voyage.
Although Taiwanese ships regularly conduct training cruises in the Pacific and to Latin America, this is the first time that such an ambitious itinerary had been attempted.
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