From GMA News (Nov 24): Taiwan to send naval ship loaded with relief goods
Taiwan is sending a naval vessel to the Philippines on Monday to bring relief supplies for victims of super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).
Taiwan is sending a naval vessel to the Philippines on Monday to bring relief supplies for victims of super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).
A report on Taiwan's Central News Agency Sunday said the tank-landing ship "Chung He" will travel 900 nautical miles from Southern Taiwan's Zuoying district. The voyage is expected to take four days.
Defense Ministry spokesman Luo Shou-he is quoted as saying this will be the first time Taiwan's navy visits the Philippines since the Vietnam War nearly 40 years ago.
"(The) last time Taiwan's navy visited the Philippines was to help transport Vietnamese refugees in Subic Bay in 1975,"the report said.
The Philippines is reeling from Yolanda, which devastated Visayas and Southern Luzon on November 8.
Earlier, Taiwan donated $200,000 and sent 150 metric tons of relief supplies from charity groups to affected areas.
Citing figures from Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the report said government and civic groups contributed more than $6.42 million in supplies.
Relations between the Philippines and Taiwan soured earlier this year over the death of a Taiwanese fisherman in disputed waters.
The Philippines has since formally apologized for the incident and the National Bureau of Investigation recommended homicide and obstruction charges against Philippine Coast Guard personnel involved in the incident.
The NBI maintained, though, that the incident happened within Philippine waters.
Relations between the Philippines and Taiwan soured earlier this year over the death of a Taiwanese fisherman in disputed waters.
The Philippines has since formally apologized for the incident and the National Bureau of Investigation recommended homicide and obstruction charges against Philippine Coast Guard personnel involved in the incident.
The NBI maintained, though, that the incident happened within Philippine waters.