TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of National Defense (MND) on Tuesday (May 14) confirmed that the Navy took part in joint drills with the U.S. Navy in the Pacific in April.
Following a report by Reuters that the two navies conducted drills in the Western Pacific last month, MND spokesman Major General Sun Li-fang (孫立方) said that due to numerous uncertainties at sea, to prevent mutual interference during encounters at sea, routine drills were carried out under the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES).
This term refers to the safety measures and protocols that naval vessels or aircraft from different countries should adopt when encountering each other unexpectedly at sea. These measures and protocols are aimed at reducing mutual interference and uncertainty and facilitating communication.
CNA cited sources as saying this exercise did not involve dynamic operational maritime maneuvers and only simulated communication linkages and similar actions. The MND emphasized that this is not the first time CUES has been carried out after encountering U.S. naval vessels.
According to the Reuters report, “multiple military assets” were involved, but the drills were dubbed “unplanned sea encounters.” The exercises reportedly consisted of half a dozen navy ships from both countries, including frigates and supply and support vessels.
The drills reportedly lasted for days and were meant to train in “basic” operations covering communications, refueling, and resupply.