Taiwan Today
Date: November 30, 2016
A disaster response drill in the waters surrounding Taiping Island in the Nansha (Spratly) Islands
underscored the Republic of China (Taiwan) government’s commitment to providing emergency assistance and transforming the island into a base for humanitarian aid and supplies in the South China Sea, according to the Coast Guard Administration Nov. 30.
CGA Minister Lee Chung-wei said at a news conference in Taipei City that the previous day’s Operation Nanyuan No. 1 clearly demonstrated the capabilities of participating agencies to coordinate effectively in responding to emergency situations. The drill involved elements of the CGA and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Health and Welfare, National Defense, and Transportation and Communications, as well as the National Rescue Command Center.
A media delegation was also on hand to observe the exercise. The group comprised five local journalists as well as seven correspondents from Agence France-Presse, Associated Press, Bloomberg, Kyodo News, NHK and Reuters. [FULL STORY]