by Richard Sanders, Staff Writer
President Lai Ching-te has concluded his tour promoting Smart and Sustainable Development for a Prosperous Austronesian Region with a visit to Palau. On Friday morning, he and Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. attended a joint maritime rescue exercise at Malakal Harbor, showcasing the Taiwanese-built frigate, the “Yunlin.”
In his address, President Lai highlighted the significance of maritime patrols for both Taiwan and Palau, making the maritime patrol cooperation agreement between the two nations particularly important. He expressed his pride in the Yunlin, a 4,000-ton frigate designed for long-range operations, capable of covering 10,000 miles and equipped to withstand severe weather. The ship features advanced medical facilities comparable to a field hospital, including operating rooms and isolation wards, along with a helipad for helicopter operations, enhancing Taiwan’s capacity for humanitarian rescue missions at sea.
During the event, Presidents Lai and Whipps Jr. unveiled a friendship plaque on the Yunlin’s bridge to commemorate their collaboration. President Lai reaffirmed Taiwan’s commitment to strengthening ties with Palau and other democratic nations to uphold regional stability and security, while also emphasizing the importance of protecting the region’s marine environment.
Additionally, the U.S. military has recently upgraded radar systems on Peliliu Island, further enhancing the region’s maritime surveillance capabilities. This upgrade, coupled with coordinated efforts between the U.S., Palau, and Taiwan, aims to bolster maritime patrol operations and ensure comprehensive monitoring of the surrounding waters. Marine engineers have been actively involved in rebuilding the island’s runway, ensuring it is free from brush, trees, and unexploded ordnance from World War II, demonstrating a commitment to both infrastructure development and safety.
賴清德總統結束了他的巡訪，推廣繁榮的南島語系地區的智能與可持續發展，此行最終抵達帛琉。週五早上，他與帛琉總統蘇蘭傑·維普斯（Surangel Whipps Jr.）在馬拉卡爾港參加了一次聯合海上救援演習，展示了台灣建造的護衛艦「雲林」。
在演講中，賴總統強調了海上巡邏對台灣和帛琉的重要性，讓兩國之間的海上巡邏合作協議顯得尤為重要。他對「雲林」這艘設計用於長程作戰的4,000噸護衛艦感到自豪，該艦可航行10,000英里，並具備抵禦惡劣天氣的能力。這艘船配備了先進的醫療設施，相當於一個野戰醫院，包括手術室和隔離病房，還有直升機起降區，提升了台灣在海上人道救援任務中的能力。
在活動中，賴總統和維普斯總統在「雲林」的船橋上揭示了一塊友誼牌匾，以紀念雙方的合作。賴總統重申台灣致力於加強與帛琉及其他民主國家的聯繫，以維護地區的穩定與安全，同時強調保護海洋環境的重要性。
此外，美軍最近在佩利利尤島升級了雷達系統，進一步增強了該地區的海上監視能力。這一升級，加上美國、帛琉和台灣之間的協調努力，旨在加強海上巡邏行動，確保對周邊水域的全面監控。海洋工程師們一直積極參與重建該島的跑道，確保其不受灌木、樹木及二戰未爆彈的影響，展現了對基礎設施發展和安全的承諾。
