2020/04/22
The Ministry of National Defense issued a press release regarding "responses to inquiries by the Diplomacy and National Defense Committee of the Legislative Yuan regarding the sea-faring training mission and epidemic infection on board the Naval Goo
With regard to the responses made today (22) at the Diplomacy and National Defense Committee of the Legislative Yuan regarding "the sea-faring training mission and epidemic infection on board the Naval Goodwill Fleet," some of the external information is somewhat different from the actual situation, and the Ministry of National Defense (MND) has explained the following in order to avoid any confusion:
1. Regarding the sea-faring training mission by the Goodwill Fleet, Minister Yen fully explained in the committee that the planned mission of this sea-faring training would originally visit four countries. After considering the impact of the worldwide epidemic, the fleet changed its itinerary and had docked only at one place, the Republic of Palau. The fleet conducted the rest of the trip according to plan, executing various military trainings upon arriving in specific sea areas with its scheduled routes. The fleet absolutely did not dock in any other country or place.
2. Regarding medical consultation records on the three warships of the Goodwill Fleet, priority has been given to the investigation of the Panshi Fast Combat Support Ship based on the severity of epidemic, and then a press release was issued for clarification. Afterwards, the La Fayette Class Cruiser and ROCS Yueh Fei Missile Cruiser Yue were checked in sequence, and no cover-up or modification of previous remarks has taken place.
The investigation found that 148 crew members from the Panshi Fast Combat Support Ship have 226 man-time records (reasons seeking medical attention were previously explained) of medical consultations. Furthermore, 22 crew members from the La Fayette Class Cruiser were found with 25 man-time records of medical consultations (fever one, upper respiratory tract one, headache one, gastrointestinal discomfort three, seasickness one, surgery 10, skin six, others two); 15 crews members from the ROCS Yueh Fei Missile Cruiser were found with 16 man-time records of medical consultations (fever two, upper respiratory tract one, headache one, gastrointestinal discomfort one, surgery three, skin four, others one). In total, 185 crew members on the three warships were found to have 267 man-time of medical consultations.
3. As for Rear Admiral Chen Dao-hui, commander of the Goodwill Fleet, he told legislators when interviewed this morning why five crew members were reported as having fever, but with only one reported with further status and the four others not during the long-distance training. However, it was confirmed that there was no record of any personnel having fever, after checking the safety report form sent daily to the Naval Fleet Command one by one during the fleet’s long-distance sea-faring training.
Regarding the statement made by Rear Admiral Chen Dao-hui, the MND will further clarify relevant investigation materials with the relevant parties.
4. In order to help our nationals appreciate the investigation progress of this case, clarify incorrect information, resolve doubts, and obtain their support, the Armed Forces will start from tomorrow (23) to hold press conferences "Briefing on the Progress of Investigation Regarding Epidemic Infection on the Naval Goodwill Fleet" daily by the MND.