台湾最大海軍基地對外国傳媒公開

A few weeks ago the NHK News on-line reported the following:

台湾最大の海軍基地 外国メディアに公開

7月21日 23時50分

台湾で最大規模の海軍基地が外国メディアに公開され、南シナ海の領有権を巡る対立が続くなか、台湾としては、当事者としての存在感を示したいというねらいがあるとみられます。

台湾の外交部は２１日、日本など外国メディアを対象としたプレスツアーを行い、南シナ海に面した南部の高雄にある台湾で最大規模の海軍基地、左営基地で行われている訓練の様子を公開しました。基地の沖合の海上で行われた訓練では、潜水艦の警戒に当たるため、海軍のヘリコプターから海中に探知機を降ろす作業が行われました。また、周辺海域のパトロールに当たるフリゲート艦「西寧」では、攻撃によって船内で火災が起きたという想定で訓練が行われ、防護服を着た隊員が消火器などを使って消火に当たったり、けが人を救護したりする手順などを確認しました。
基地の公開について台湾外交部の史亜平次長は「台湾の防衛能力と、この地域の平和と安全に役割を果たす自信があることを示したい」と話しており、南シナ海の島々の領有権を巡って台湾を含む周辺の国や地域の対立が続くなか、台湾としても当事者として存在感を示したいというねらいがあるとみられます。

(試譯文)

Taiwan opened its biggest naval base to foreign media while confrontation involving the territorial rights over the South China Sea was continuing; it was expected that Taiwan had the aim of showing its presence as a party of concern.

On the 21st (July) the foreign ministry of Taiwan performed a press tour for foreign media such as Japan to show the training exercise held at the Zuo Ying base in Kaohsiung which was the biggest naval base in Taiwan, locating at the southern part and facing the South China Sea. The training was performed at the base’s offshore sea. As the base was in charge of watching out for submarines, the exercise performed was to lower down to sea a finder from a naval helicopter. Moreover, in the frigate "Xining" which was in charge of patrolling the surrounding ocean area, training was performed by assuming that a fire had occurred on board due to an attack, members who were in charge of the fire extinguishing wore protective garments reviewed the procedures in using a fire extinguisher and rescuing a wounded person etc.

About this public presentation at the base, Assistant General Manager Shi Yaping of the Taiwan foreign ministry division said that “I would like to show Taiwan’s confidence in its defense capability and in playing a role for peace and safety in the area". While confrontation centering on the territorial right over the islands in South China Sea continued among surrounding countries and regions including Taiwan, there was a likelihood that Taiwan aimed at showing its presence as a party of concern.

   It is an interesting press tour for foreign media.