President Ma Ying-jeou is scheduled to visit navy personnel stationed on Taiping Island on Thursday. The army will deploy a convoy in the air and on the sea to ensure Ma’s safety.
According to Defense Ministry Spokesman David Lo, Ma’s visit will not be the first time a Taiwanese president has landed on Taiping Island. Lo said the president’s visit is a perfectly reasonable act that demonstrates Taiwan’s sovereignty over the island.
The army convoy includes airborne early warning aircraft that will monitor activity in nearby airspace, and F-16 fighter jets that will protect the president’s plane. Battleships have also cleared the maritime channels and have readied their anti-air missiles.
Meanwhile, the navy began military exercises Wednesday at the port of Zuoying in southern Taiwan. The exercises showcase new weaponry, including the Tuo Chiang-class corvette, which was commissioned in 2014.
The military exercises include programs such as joint air and sea submarine searches, joint air and sea anti-submarine convoys, on-sea logistics support, and helicopter landing. The goal is to showcase the high level of in-combat coordination between different classes of battle ships and to demonstrate the prowess of Taiwan’s new-generation fleet.