The Ministry of National Defense launched a special naval exercise involving up to 13 warships and its new Tuo Jiang-class corvette (沱江艦) yesterday with marine patrol maneuvers southeast of the nation.
Led by the Keelung-class guided missile destroyer Ma Kung (馬公號), the fleet left Greater Kaohsiung’s Chijin Harbor (旗津) yesterday afternoon for the exercise set to coincide with the new year.
With naval officials and crews aboard, the Ma Kung headed south in the Taiwan Strait toward the Pacific Ocean, about 104 nautical miles (192km) east of Orchid Island (蘭嶼, also known as Lanyu).
The two-day “New Year’s Day Naval Combat Readiness Patrol” (元旦戰備巡弋) was also to test the maneuverability and capability of stealth missile corvette, the ministry said.
Ministry officials said the fleet would welcome the New Year by catching rays from the nation’s first sunrise this year on the Pacific Ocean, as this has great significance and can serve as a good omen for the coming year.
The exercise also included Cheng Kung-class (成功級), Kang Ding-class (康定級) and Chi Yang-class (濟陽級) frigates, as well as other patrol vessels.
Ministry spokesman Major General David Lo (羅紹和) said the exercise shows Taiwanese that military officers are on guard to protect the nation during the holidays, and stand ready to preserve security in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding marine territories.
The exercise will have combined drills for naval ships and air force jets, with anti-submarine patrol missions and anti-invasion scenarios, to show the military’s combat readiness, he added.
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