Taiwan Rescue Official Calls for Restart of Joint Sea Drills with Beijing at Straits Forum

Yin Liu-sheng, secretary general of the Taiwan-based Chinese Search and Rescue Association, urged Beijing and Taipei on Sunday to resume joint maritime search-and-rescue drills that ended a decade ago. ” “Maritime search-and-rescue operations are time-critical, and both sides should ensure that rescue hotlines remain open at all times, allowing timely communication on maritime emergencies in the Taiwan Strait,” Yin said.

The Taiwan Strait ranks among the world’s busiest commercial and fishing routes, where weather and sea conditions create frequent accident risks.

Joint drills between the two sides took place three times from 2010 to 2014 in waters near mainland cities and Taiwan’s outlying islands. ” The last joint exercise occurred in 2016, after which cooperation ceased when the Democratic Progressive Party assumed power in Taiwan.