President Tsai observes coast guard search and rescue drill
On the morning of March 23, President Tsai Ing-wen visited the Palau Division of Marine Law Enforcement to observe a coast guard search and rescue drill as part of her Oceans of Democracy state visits to Palau, Nauru, and the Marshall Islands.
After arriving at the Marine Law Dock at Malakal, President Tsai first received a briefing from Taiwan's Ocean Affairs Council Deputy Minister Chen Guo-en (陳國恩) on the search and rescue drill.
President Tsai and Palau President Tommy Remengesau, Jr. then watched the drill through binoculars while listening to expert commentary on the rescue maneuvers being performed by ROC Coast Guard Patrol Vessel Hsun Hu No. 7. In the simulated scenario, Hsun Hu No. 7 received a report from the captain of the London, a fishing vessel operating under the Palau flag. The report stated that two crew members were missing and presumed to have gone overboard while organizing equipment, and the London's captain requested Hsun Hu No. 7's assistance for search and rescue. After arriving at the search zone, Hsun Hu No. 7 released dinghies to perform a near-shore search. Different types of rescue operations were carried out based on different simulated degrees of injury suffered by the victims.
The Coast Guard Administration under the Ocean Affairs Council bears principal responsibility for Taiwan's maritime law enforcement and rescue operations. President Tsai's state visit provided the opportunity for the two sides to sign a coast guard cooperation agreement that will forge stronger ties of friendship and foster further cooperation between our coast guards. The agreement aims to enhance Taiwan-Palau bilateral relations through reciprocal visits, training exchanges, maritime search and rescue operations, fisheries law enforcement, and collaboration to crack down on maritime crime.
Among those representing Palau during the activities were President Tommy Remengesau, Jr. and Vice President Raynold Oilouch, while Taiwan was represented by Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Tsai Ming-yen (蔡明彥), other members of the visiting delegation, and ROC Ambassador to Palau Wallace M.G. Chow (周民淦).