President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) has reached Palau, the last stop of his multi-country Smart and Sustainable Development for a Prosperous Austronesian Region Tour (繁榮南島 智慧永續) on Friday morning. Lai visited Malakal Harbor with Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. to attend a joint maritime rescue exercise featuring the ‘Yunlin’ ship built in Taiwan and sailed to Palau to participate in the event.
The president said in his speech that Taiwan and Palau are both maritime countries, and patrol work is very important, making the maritime patrol cooperation agreement between the two countries especially significant.
Lai stated that he was very happy to see the Yunlin, a 4,000-ton frigate with a range of 10,000 miles that can withstand strong winds. The ship is equipped with three sets of high-pressure water cannons as well as sophisticated medical equipment equivalent to the level of a field hospital including operating rooms, negative pressure isolation wards, and a helipad for helicopter take-off and landing, allowing Taiwan to contribute more to humanitarian rescue at sea. Presidents Lai and Whipps Jr. jointly unveiled a signed friendship plaque hung in the Yunlin’s bridge to commemorate the drill.
Lai emphasized that Taiwan will continue to deepen cooperation with Palau and other democratic countries to jointly maintain regional stability and security, and work together to protect the region’s precious and beautiful oceans.