The fleet will arrive on May 25 and will be welcomed by Palauan officials led by President Johnson Toribiong and Taiwan Ambassador to Palau Maggie Taiching Tien.
The Fleet of Friendship is scheduled to perform martial arts, marching band and guards of honor at the Palau National Track and Field at 3 p.m., May 25.The next day, a goodwill baseball game will be held at the Asahi Ballfield at 7 p.m., the public are invited to the event.The fleet will also be open to public viewing from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 26 to May 27.The fleet comprises of 2 La Fayette class frigates, Cheng-De, and Wu-Chang as well as 500 navy officers, soldiers and cadets from Taiwan’s Naval Academy.The Taiwan embassy said every year, graduating students sail aboard the Fleet of Friendship for shipboard training.The embassy added that during the long voyage, future naval officers are given opportunity to practice “their combat skills and tactics to enrich their navigational experiences.”The Fleet of Friendship has sailed to the Middle East, Africa, Central America, Pacific Island and other parts of the world.The fleet has visited the country at least eight times.The embassy said that the visit will not only provide a “valuable opportunity for ROC naval cadets to appreciate the beautiful scenery and rich culture of Palau, but also enhance the existing good relationship between Palau and Taiwan.’The fleet will go back to Taiwan at 8 a.m. on Thursday May 28, 2009.
