Coast Guard 'Friendship Fleet' arrives in Palau, to meet with president

Taipei, Oct. 7 (CNA) The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) said Wednesday that two of its patrol vessels had docked at Palau's Malakal Harbor as part of an expedition exercise and diplomatic visit, during which a senior official is expected to meet with the Palauan president.

The two vessels, the 4,000-tonne-class Chiayi and the 1,000-tonne-class Penghu, set sail for Palau from Taiwan last week and arrived Tuesday at the Malakal Harbor, the CGA's Fleet Branch said in a statement.

The journey marked the second time the CGA has dispatched a "Friendship Fleet" to another country, after it sent its first-ever goodwill fleet, comprising the Hualien and Taipei patrol vessels, to Palau in 2025.

During the visit, a delegation led by CGA Deputy Director-General Hsu Ching-chih (許靜芝) is expected to meet with Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr. and take part in friendly pickleball and swimming competitions with local officials, according to the statement.

The two sides are scheduled to hold a banquet aboard the Chiayi, during which the national flags of Taiwan and Palau will be raised, according to the branch. Afterward, the two vessels will conduct a joint patrol with Palauan law enforcement units per a bilateral coast guard cooperation agreement signed in 2019.

The Fleet Branch said CGA personnel participated in various drills during the journey to validate their professional skills, including their ability to coordinate between two vessels, and ensure that the vessels' performance met operational standards.

The branch said the trip was significant for Taiwan's international maritime cooperation and "coast guard diplomacy," adding that the CGA will continue to establish international partnerships.