First Cabinet Minister on Taiping Island in 7 Years: Kuan Bi-ling Hosts Nanyuan No. 9 Drill
Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling visited Taiping Island to preside over the 'Nanyuan No. 9' humanitarian and disaster relief drill, marking the first time in seven years a cabinet-level official has visited the South China Sea outpost.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 22, 2026 at 23:51
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 00:02 (10 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 05:05 (5h 3m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(CNA Reporter Chang Chi-min, Kaohsiung, 22nd) Multiple agencies, including the Ocean Affairs Council's Coast Guard Administration (CGA) and the Ministry of National Defense, conducted the "Nanyuan No. 9" drill in the waters around Taiping Island yesterday, presided over by Minister Kuan Bi-ling who visited the island. The Ocean Affairs Council stated that this is Kuan's first visit to the island and the first time in seven years a central cabinet minister has landed there.
The Southeastern Fleet Branch of the CGA issued a press release today stating that the CGA, in conjunction with the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, conducted the "Nanyuan No. 9" joint drill for humanitarian rescue, medical evacuation, and marine pollution cleanup in the waters around Nansha Taiping Island on the 21st.
The Southeastern Fleet Branch pointed out that the drill was hosted for the first time by OAC Minister Kuan Bi-ling. The drill process was realistic and intense, and real-time conditions were transmitted back to the CGA's Zhenhai Duty Command Center via satellite communication, demonstrating the technological integration capability and overall response energy of "seeing, hearing, and commanding."
The Ocean Affairs Council told the CNA reporter that since former OAC Minister Lee Chung-wei visited the island during the "Nanyuan No. 4" drill on May 21, 2019, it has been seven years since a central cabinet minister has landed on Taiping Island. This is also Kuan Bi-ling's first trip to Taiping Island. During the drill, seven countries, including the US and the Philippines, launched a 19-day joint military exercise in the South China Sea.
The Southeastern Fleet Branch stated that the drill simulated the Nansha Command's radar monitoring a suspicious cargo ship listed on the "Tokyo MOU" five black flag countries list. The CGA dispatched a stationed 100-ton patrol boat and a multi-purpose boat to escort the cargo ship back to Taiping Island for investigation.
The drill continued with a simulation of a Vietnamese fishing boat in the waters southwest of Taiping Island suffering mechanical failure, being side-swiped by a passing cargo ship, and catching fire. It immediately sent an abandon-ship distress signal, causing a large-scale complex disaster with many injuries and people falling overboard.
The Southeastern Fleet Branch pointed out that the process included high-risk boarding and rescue missions executed by the Coast Guard Special Task Force, participating in the drill for the first time. Drones were utilized to improve search and rescue efficiency and on-site command control. In addition, the Ministry of National Defense dispatched a C-130 transport aircraft to join the drill, executing air support and emergency medical evacuation missions to enhance joint support and three-dimensional rescue effectiveness.
The CGA stated that the drill mobilized 1 military aircraft, 1 ship, 3 boats, and 2 drone sorties, equipped with various life-saving gear to execute maritime rescue. Subsequently, oil booms were used to block oil spills from spreading, and video consultations were conducted through a remote medical mechanism, presenting Taiping Island's overall capabilities in humanitarian rescue, emergency medical care, and disaster response.
The CGA added that since the completion of the Nansha Taiping Island pier in 2023, it can accommodate the CGA's 4,000-ton patrol ships, and 100-ton patrol boats have been routinely stationed there, enhancing law enforcement and response capabilities in the Taiping Island waters. In the future, South China Sea humanitarian rescue drills will continue to be held to refine cross-agency integrated response actions and deepen rescue cooperation mechanisms with neighboring countries. (Editor: Li Heng-shan) 1150422
(CNA Reporter Chang Chi-min, Kaohsiung, 22nd) Multiple agencies, including the Ocean Affairs Council's Coast Guard Administration (CGA) and the Ministry of National Defense, conducted the "Nanyuan No. 9" drill in the waters around Taiping Island yesterday, presided over by Minister Kuan Bi-ling who visited the island. The Ocean Affairs Council stated that this is Kuan's first visit to the island and the first time in seven years a central cabinet minister has landed there.
The Southeastern Fleet Branch of the CGA issued a press release today stating that the CGA, in conjunction with the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, conducted the "Nanyuan No. 9" joint drill for humanitarian rescue, medical evacuation, and marine pollution cleanup in the waters around Nansha Taiping Island on the 21st.
The Southeastern Fleet Branch pointed out that the drill was hosted for the first time by OAC Minister Kuan Bi-ling. The drill process was realistic and intense, and real-time conditions were transmitted back to the CGA's Zhenhai Duty Command Center via satellite communication, demonstrating the technological integration capability and overall response energy of "seeing, hearing, and commanding."
The Ocean Affairs Council told the CNA reporter that since former OAC Minister Lee Chung-wei visited the island during the "Nanyuan No. 4" drill on May 21, 2019, it has been seven years since a central cabinet minister has landed on Taiping Island. This is also Kuan Bi-ling's first trip to Taiping Island. During the drill, seven countries, including the US and the Philippines, launched a 19-day joint military exercise in the South China Sea.
The Southeastern Fleet Branch stated that the drill simulated the Nansha Command's radar monitoring a suspicious cargo ship listed on the "Tokyo MOU" five black flag countries list. The CGA dispatched a stationed 100-ton patrol boat and a multi-purpose boat to escort the cargo ship back to Taiping Island for investigation.
The drill continued with a simulation of a Vietnamese fishing boat in the waters southwest of Taiping Island suffering mechanical failure, being side-swiped by a passing cargo ship, and catching fire. It immediately sent an abandon-ship distress signal, causing a large-scale complex disaster with many injuries and people falling overboard.
The Southeastern Fleet Branch pointed out that the process included high-risk boarding and rescue missions executed by the Coast Guard Special Task Force, participating in the drill for the first time. Drones were utilized to improve search and rescue efficiency and on-site command control. In addition, the Ministry of National Defense dispatched a C-130 transport aircraft to join the drill, executing air support and emergency medical evacuation missions to enhance joint support and three-dimensional rescue effectiveness.
The CGA stated that the drill mobilized 1 military aircraft, 1 ship, 3 boats, and 2 drone sorties, equipped with various life-saving gear to execute maritime rescue. Subsequently, oil booms were used to block oil spills from spreading, and video consultations were conducted through a remote medical mechanism, presenting Taiping Island's overall capabilities in humanitarian rescue, emergency medical care, and disaster response.
The CGA added that since the completion of the Nansha Taiping Island pier in 2023, it can accommodate the CGA's 4,000-ton patrol ships, and 100-ton patrol boats have been routinely stationed there, enhancing law enforcement and response capabilities in the Taiping Island waters. In the future, South China Sea humanitarian rescue drills will continue to be held to refine cross-agency integrated response actions and deepen rescue cooperation mechanisms with neighboring countries. (Editor: Li Heng-shan) 1150422