Minister of National Defense Lee Jye (李傑) will join Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) and 13 legislators on a warship headed to disputed waters northeast of Taiwan today, to demonstrate the government's determination to protect Taiwanese fishermen.
"Because Legislative Speaker Wang decided to board the warship, minister Lee will accompany him and the other lawmakers," Ministry of National Defense (MND) spokesman Rear Admiral Liou Chih-chien (劉志堅) said yesterday.
Liu said Lee and the others will board a 3,500-tonne Knox-class frigate equipped with advanced Standard-I missiles.
According to Chinese-language newspapers, to avoid disputes with Japan, the warship will not sail to waters close to the Diaoyutais, which are claimed by both Taiwan and Japan. The newspapers said the navy's mission is to protect Taiwan's fishermen, and would not involve any move to stake a claim to sovereignty over the islands.
According to a schedule released by the MND, the warship will depart from Suao naval base at 9am, travel 110km off the coast of Taiwan by 12:45pm, and return to Suao at 5pm. Other warships and boats will be monitoring the situation.
The ministry will allow some reporters to board the warship, along with the legislators.
Newspapers said that to prepare for any possible incident, F-16 fighters equipped with AIM-120 and Harpoon missiles will be on alert today.
The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) yesterday said it would send the 1,800-tonne Mou Hsing and two 1,000-tonne boats to support the warship. The CGA also ordered all boats scheduled to patrol waters northwest of Taiwan today to move to positions 45km or more off the coast.
"If any incidents occur, the boats will be able to reach the spot within an hour," the CGA said in a press statement.
The ministry initially said that it had no intention of getting involved in recent fishing disputes with Japan, after People First Party Legislator Lin Yu-fang (
However, after Wang talked to the Lee last week, Lee agreed that the ministry would allow lawmakers onboard navy vessels sailing to disputed waters with Japan.
Meanwhile, the captain of a Taiwanese fishing boat that was detained by the Japanese coast guard early on Saturday was released on bail Sunday night.
Chen The-liang (
Chen and his four fishermen are be expected to return to Pingtung tomorrow.
According to Japanese news-papers, Chen admitted that he had been fishing in waters beyond Taiwan's exclusive economic zone.
also see stories:
DPP faults Wang for frigate trip
Premier won't join legislators on warship voyage
FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION: The UK would continue to reinforce ties with Taiwan ‘in a wide range of areas’ as a part of a ‘strong unofficial relationship,’ a paper said The UK plans to conduct more freedom of navigation operations in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Lammy told the British House of Commons on Tuesday. British Member of Parliament Desmond Swayne said that the Royal Navy’s HMS Spey had passed through the Taiwan Strait “in pursuit of vital international freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.” Swayne asked Lammy whether he agreed that it was “proper and lawful” to do so, and if the UK would continue to carry out similar operations. Lammy replied “yes” to both questions. The
‘OF COURSE A COUNTRY’: The president outlined that Taiwan has all the necessary features of a nation, including citizens, land, government and sovereignty President William Lai (賴清德) discussed the meaning of “nation” during a speech in New Taipei City last night, emphasizing that Taiwan is a country as he condemned China’s misinterpretation of UN Resolution 2758. The speech was the first in a series of 10 that Lai is scheduled to give across Taiwan. It is the responsibility of Taiwanese citizens to stand united to defend their national sovereignty, democracy, liberty, way of life and the future of the next generation, Lai said. This is the most important legacy the people of this era could pass on to future generations, he said. Lai went on to discuss
AMENDMENT: Climate change is expected to increase the frequency of high-temperature days, affecting economic productivity and public health, experts said The Central Weather Administration (CWA) is considering amending the Meteorological Act (氣象法) to classify “high temperatures” as “hazardous weather,” providing a legal basis for work or school closures due to extreme heat. CWA Administrator Lu Kuo-chen (呂國臣) yesterday said the agency plans to submit the proposed amendments to the Executive Yuan for review in the fourth quarter this year. The CWA has been monitoring high-temperature trends for an extended period, and the agency contributes scientific data to the recently established High Temperature Response Alliance led by the Ministry of Environment, Lu said. The data include temperature, humidity, radiation intensity and ambient wind,
SECOND SPEECH: All political parties should work together to defend democracy, protect Taiwan and resist the CCP, despite their differences, the president said President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday discussed how pro-Taiwan and pro-Republic of China (ROC) groups can agree to maintain solidarity on the issue of protecting Taiwan and resisting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The talk, delivered last night at Taoyuan’s Hakka Youth Association, was the second in a series of 10 that Lai is scheduled to give across Taiwan. Citing Taiwanese democracy pioneer Chiang Wei-shui’s (蔣渭水) slogan that solidarity brings strength, Lai said it was a call for political parties to find consensus amid disagreements on behalf of bettering the nation. All political parties should work together to defend democracy, protect Taiwan and resist
RSS