The Executive Yuan's Coast Guard Administration (CGA) has commissioned two new patrol vessels – the Hsin Bei and the Syun Hu No. 8. The two cutters, which were launched on March 30, are the first vessels completed under the Coast Guard Development Program. President Ma headed to Offshore Flotilla 5 (Kaohsiung) in the afternoon to participate in the christening ceremonies, and there he presided over a drill while onboard the Hsin Bei. This was a concrete demonstration, stated the president, of the government's determination to gradually strengthen patrols in the ROC's territorial waters, as well as its ability to engage in rescue operations and protect the ROC's fishermen and fishing vessels. This initiative also aims to realize the government's goal of "making a blue revolution, and seeking prosperity from the ocean."
After the christening ceremonies, President Ma declared the Hsin Bei and the Syun Hu No. 8 cutters commissioned, and then presented flags to be flown on the vessels. In remarks, the president noted that the CGA has been in operation since 2000. In its early days, it only had four large 1,000-ton class patrol vessels provided by the Ministry of Finance, namely the Ho Shin, the Wei Shin, the Fu Shin, and the Mou Shin. These vessels were used in anti-smuggling operations. The only other vessels available to the administration were small- and medium-sized ones, he noted, which were limited in their ability to patrol the open seas. The president stated that even though two 1,000-ton class coast guard patrollers – the Tainan and the Syun Hu No. 7 – have been built and commissioned in recent years, conditions in the seas around Taiwan have changed. Consequently, the number of tasks and the frequency of missions have increased, the president said, for which reason the CGA needs more equipment.
President Ma mentioned that the ROC Constitution clearly stipulates that the national territory of the ROC includes that of the Taiwan and mainland China areas. Although the ROC government presently rules only over Taiwan, the Penghu Islands, Kinmen, and Matsu, the aforementioned four places are all surrounded by the sea, and we need to protect fishermen, engage in disaster rescue and relief, and conduct law enforcement at sea, he said. The president stated that when he first ran for the presidency in 2007, one platform plank called for "making a blue revolution, and seeking prosperity from the ocean." After he took office in 2008, he remarked, the Executive Yuan appropriated NT$24.07 billion under the policy of "building cutters with national technology." The plan, which would be carried out over a 10-year period, he said, called for the construction of 37 new-generation marine patrol vessels weighing an aggregate 17,000 tons. The president stated that this marks the biggest increase in equipment for the CGA in its 13-year history.
President Ma furthermore stated that the Hsin Bei and the Syun Hu No. 8 being commissioned that day were the first two vessels of the new force completed under this initiative. The president explained that the Syun Hu No. 8 will be able to sail for up to 15,000 nautical miles at a time, while the Hsin Bei will be the CGA's first patrol vessel equipped with 40 mm cannons. In the future, he said, another 35 vessels of various models and sizes will be gradually added to the fleet. Meanwhile, the service life of the Ho Shin, the Wei Shin, the Fu Shin, and the Mou Shin will be extended and their performance abilities upgraded, the president noted. In other words, after the completion of the 10-year plan, the nation will have expanded its fleet to 173 vessels totaling 36,000 tons. This modern marine patrol fleet will strengthen Taiwan's ability to patrol its waters and effectively safeguard its marine interests, the president commented.
President Ma emphasized that the CGA has three main missions – to enforce the law at sea, to engage in rescue at sea, and to protect Taiwan's fishing vessels and fishermen. The president stated that on August 5 last year the government unveiled its East China Sea Peace Initiative. He added that the ROC won't evade, provoke, or concede to other claimants in the defense of the nation's sovereignty over the Diaoyutai Islets and the protection of fishing rights. The president pointed out that at a time of increasing tension in the seas near Taiwan, the bravery of those in the CGA has been recognized and praised by the public, and in particular the nation's fishermen. President Ma furthermore commended the CGA for its successful anti-smuggling work ahead of the Lunar New Year in the Dapeng Bay area, where it intercepted a work pontoon trying to smuggle 1.32 million packs of cigarettes into Taiwan. The administration is effectively preventing illegal activities, he said.
President Ma stated that the nation's ability to enforce the law will gradually be strengthened under the Coast Guard Development Program. He cited data indicating that for every 100,000 square kilometers of marine territory, contiguous zones, and exclusive economic zones, the United States has commissioned two large patrol vessels with a total tonnage of 1,900 tons, Japan has five vessels weighing a total of 5,000 tons, and the ROC has six vessels weighing a total tonnage of 2,900 tons, he said. As for shipboard helicopters, the U. S. Coast Guard has 210 helicopters, Japan's Coast Guard has 73, and the Philippines has 10, while the CGA does not have any, the president stated. In response, the government will continue to work to make more equipment available. He said that the developmental vision for the next 10 years consists of "building and commissioning bigger vessels, enabling the vessels to patrol the open seas, and narrowing down the types of vessels employed but enhancing their functionality."
The president pointed out that in recent years the CGA has gradually seen an expansion of its mission to protect Taiwan's shipping vessels operating in the high seas. Each time one of its vessels leaves port, it on average sails for over 10,000 nautical miles. In total, these vessels have gone on 36 voyages, he said. The government works hard to protect the nation's fishermen and fishing vessels in order to defend the ROC's territorial seas, fishermen, and fishing rights, the president remarked.
President Ma stressed that the purpose of the commissioning ceremonies was not to show off Taiwan's military force, but rather to enable everyone to understand that the ROC government is committed to enhancing the nation's ability to conduct law enforcement at sea, engage in disaster rescue at sea, and protect its fishermen and fishing boats. The president emphasized that the ROC "won't concede one inch" in any issue related to the sovereignty of the ROC. However, he noted, the ROC is still a peace-loving nation, and that both its own constitution and international law call for peaceful resolution of disputes. Consequently, the president explained, in the second half of last year, when the sovereignty dispute over the Diaoyutai Islets in the East China Sea came to the forefront, the ROC reiterated its intention to safeguard sovereignty, shelve disputes, pursue peace and reciprocity, and promote joint exploration and development. He said that while "sovereignty over national territory cannot be compromised, natural resources can be shared." President Ma expressed hope that nations involved in the dispute can reduce tensions and use peaceful means to resolve the controversy. This is one pragmatic example of the nation's implementation of the concept of "making a blue revolution, and seeking prosperity from the ocean."
After completing his remarks, the president was accompanied by National Security Council Secretary-General Jason C. Yuan (袁健生), National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Philip Y. M. Yang (楊永明), and CGA Minister Wang Ginn-Wang (王進旺) in boarding the Hsin Bei cutter to inspect it. After being briefed on the vessel, the president then reviewed an artillery operation drill. He also witnessed the 40 mm cannons in action. After reviewing the CGA sailor's tactical formation, their use of water cannon to expel illegally encroaching vessels, a fire drill, the rescue of individuals who had fallen into the water, and the use of helicopters to rescue people, the president praised all those involved for their skill and dedication.
After the conclusion of the drills at sea and the return of the vessel to port, President Ma had a meal in the evening with CGA personnel, whom he thanked for their hard work. He also praised the expertise demonstrated in their drills as well as their high level of morale.
In remarks delivered at the meal, the president stated that this marked the first time that he and many of the other officials had boarded an official vessel at sea. The president pointed out that while this voyage was only about two hours long and the journey did not exceed 12 nautical miles, he got a good feel for the hard work and earnestness of the CGA personnel in their daily work to protect the nation's fishermen.
President Ma pointed out that the success of the drills carried out earlier in the day demonstrates the solid training and superior technique of the CGA personnel. He stated that the drills he witnessed included maneuvers to protect fishing boats and the use of helicopters to rescue people from the water using cables. The president said that he was deeply impressed with what he saw, and that the drills demonstrated the expertise of the ROC's coast guard agencies.
The president mentioned that prior to the lifting of martial law in 1987, responsibility for maritime law enforcement and rescue operations were handled by the ROC Navy. President Ma said that he at one time suggested to then-premier Hau Pei-tsun (郝柏村) that the government establish a dedicated coast guard agency to patrol the nation's waters. The forerunner to the current CGA was then created, he noted, but its ships and equipment were extremely limited. It was not until after June 2008, when the Lianhe Incident (a collision between a Taiwan sport fishing vessel and a Japanese coast guard patrol vessel) took place, that he made a special visit to the CGA, he said. President Ma commented that he was satisfied with the method in which the CGA handled the incident, and it was then decided to appropriate NT$24 billion to expand the CGA patrol fleet.
President Ma reiterated that the drills earlier in the day were not a show of force. Rather, they exhibited the CGA's strengthened ability to carry out law enforcement, engage in rescue work, protect the nation's fishermen, defend Taiwan's territorial waters, and protect the fishing rights of the nation's fishermen, he said.
President Ma said that when martial law was in effect, the ocean was pretty much off-limits to most people. Today, however, the seas around Taiwan have been opened to the public. He stated that the government is working to encourage people to enjoy the ocean. At the same time, the government intends to take advantage of the ocean to enhance the ROC's national power. This, he said, will enable Taiwan to realize its objective of "making a blue revolution, and seeking prosperity from the ocean."
Among those attending the activities were National Security Council Secretary-General Yuan, CGA Minister Wang, Deputy Secretary-General to the President Hsiung Kuang-hua (熊光華), and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Simon Shen-Yeaw Ko (柯森耀).