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Updated Sunday, March 28, 2010 9:26 am TWN, The China Post news staff and agencies



	President Ma Ying-jeou, second from left, meets with officials welcoming his return from the week-long visit to South Pacific allies. His entourage included National Security Council Secretary-General Hu Wei-jen, Foreign Minister Timothy C.T.Yang, Government Information Office Minister Johnny Chi chen Chiang, and other senior officials. (CNA) Enlarge Photo

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President returns from fifth diplomatic tour

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- President Ma Ying-jeou and his 90-member entourage returned to the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport yesterday after concluding a one-week diplomatic visit to Taiwan's six allies in the South Pacific.

At a news conference held at the airport soon after his arrival, Ma praised national security authorities for taking swift, efficient measures in response to the sinking of a South Korean naval ship off the west coast of the Korean peninsula.

The naval ship sank after an unexplained explosion ripped through its hull Friday night.

Ma was informed of the incident during his visit to Palau. He immediately called an emergency meeting with Taiwan's national security authorities and ordered the activation of the national security mechanism.

Ma departed last Sunday on a seven-day tour of the South Pacific to visit all six of Taiwan's diplomatic allies there — the Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Nauru, the Solomon Islands and Palau.

The delegation made a 60-minute refueling stop in Guam on the outbound flight and a 90-minute stopover on the return leg. In Guam, Ma met with American Institute in Taiwan Chairman Raymond Burghardt.

It was Ma's fifth overseas trip and his first to the South Pacific since he took office in May 2008. His previous four trips took him to Taiwan's allies in Latin America and the Caribbean.

During his latest overseas tour, Ma met and talked with his South Pacific counterparts on issues that concerned medical assistance, aquaculture, vocational training, agricultural cooperation, green energy and cultural exchanges.

Ma stressed that his trip demonstrates the government's determination to enhance ties with allies while at the same time improving the peaceful relations with China.

The president also said that he reached understanding that the national will continue providing aid to the allies under the principles of accountability, transparency, and good governing over the use of the funds.

Ma was interrupted during a press conference Friday night and informed of the incident during his visit to Palau, one of the nation's allies in the South Pacific.

He immediately called an emergency meeting with national security authorities, in which he ordered an activation of Taiwan's national security mechanism.

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