President Ma Ying-jeou began the second day of his two-day trip to the Republic of Palau at 9:00 a.m. on March 27 (8:00 a.m. Taipei time).
Prior to that, however, President Ma took steps late the preceding evening and early that morning to consider the ramifications of the sinking of a South Korean navy ship on March 26. President Ma received first word of the incident on the evening of March 26 when he was holding a reception for members of the Taiwan press traveling with him on this trip. Upon hearing the news, the president immediately called for a small national security meeting with National Security Council Secretary-General Hu Wei-jen, Foreign Minister Timothy Yang, Government Information Office Minister Johnny Chiang, and other high-ranking officials travelling with him. The officials discussed the latest events and mapped out any possible measures the ROC might need to adopt in response.
Early on the morning of March 27, Presidential Spokesman Lo Chih-chiang elaborated that President Ma was well-informed on the incident, and though the situation was still not entirely clear at that point. The investigation of national security authorities appeared to indicate that the accident was due to internal factors in South Korea. He said that President Ma at 6:00 a.m. again spoke over the telephone with Minister of National Defense Kao Hua-chu. Minister Kao briefed President Ma on the latest situation and related measures being adopted by the ROC military in response.
Spokesman Lo furthermore remarked that at 7:30 a.m. the president called another small national security meeting, with National Science Council Secretary-General Hu, Foreign Minister Yang, and GIO Minister Chiang again in attendance. In addition, Vice President Vincent C. Siew, Premier Wu Den-yih, National Defense Minister Kao and Legislative Yuan President Wang Jin-pyng also participated in the meeting via telephone. The officials exchanged opinions on the latest breaking developments. During the meeting, National Security Council Secretary-General Hu recommended that since the itinerary planned for the day was with President Toribiong, the original arrangements should continue as planned. Secretary-General Hu and Foreign Minister Yang would stay at the hotel to wait for any orders from the president and remain abreast of the situation via persons in Taiwan as well as Taiwan's representative in South Korea. In addition, they would report to the president on the latest information as they received it. Back in Taiwan, government organizations would operate as normal, but would be on a state of alert. Meanwhile, the military would also remain on a general state of alert.
Spokesman Lo said President Ma accepted Secretary-General Hu's recommendation, and based on diplomatic protocol, he said President Ma would continue with the morning's itinerary as scheduled. However, the president, he said, would remain flexible so that any adjustments could be made if needed. President Ma, he said, also asked the people of Taiwan to remain calm, saying that the government had the situation well in hand and that all necessary preparations had been made.
At 9:10 a.m. local time (8:10 a.m. Taipei time), President Ma was accompanied by President Toribiong to the waters near the Seventy Islands so that President Ma could understand the conservation measures being implemented by Palau. President Ma said he admired the work being carried out there and expressed his hopes that mutual cooperation would pave the way for the development of tourist and cultural exchanges.
In the afternoon, President Ma and his delegation concluded their visit to Palau. President Toribiong and his deputy were at the airport to bid them farewell. This marked the end to the president's trip to the ROC's six allies in the South Pacific.