TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Members of the Legislative Yuan Internal Administration Committee plan to go ahead with a visit to Dongsha Island in the South China Sea despite the approach of Typhoon Bavi, reports said Wednesday.
A 19-member delegation, including five KMT and two DPP legislators, will fly from Taipei on Thursday, the Liberty Times reported. The group will also include senior officials from the Coast Guard and the National Park Service.
Dongsha Atoll is listed as a protected national marine park, while the area, like other islands controlled by Taiwan, has been targeted by Chinese coast guard and research ships for frequent intrusions into restricted waters.
The visit will last 150 minutes, according to Liberty Times. The group will fly out of Kaohsiung’s Xiaogang Airport on Thursday morning, with their arrival at Dongsha scheduled for 11:30 a.m.
The legislators will hear a report about the Coast Guard’s work on the island, followed by a 30-minute discussion. During the afternoon, the officials and lawmakers will tour the water treatment facilities, a post office, a pier, and a temple.
At the ocean research center, experts will provide an introduction to the results of environmental protection on Dongsha, per Liberty Times.
As Typhoon Bavi is to approach Taiwan from the east with most of the impact forecast for Friday and Saturday, the route between Kaohsiung and Dongsha is unlikely to be severely affected on Thursday.
