Vice Defense Minister Hsu Yen-pu (徐衍璞) reassured the public on Monday that the necessary preparations have been completed for the May 16 visit by legislators to Taiping Island. Hsu adds that the ministry is committed to executing its duties effectively.
Twenty opposition lawmakers will be joining the trip. Hsu clarified that the initiative stemmed from the Legislative Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee. Committee Convener KMT Legislator Ma Wen-chun (馬文君) said the purpose of the visit is to show Taiwan’s sovereignty over Taiping Island, to inspect the facilities, and to boost the morale of the garrison stationed there. Ma mentioned that the date of the visit was scheduled intentionally to precede the presidential inauguration ceremony in order to underscore the nation's sovereignty over the island.
Responding to concerns about the timing of the visit and its potential sensitivity, Hsu declined to comment, stating that such matters fall beyond the scope of the Defense Ministry's purview.