TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A contingent of “blue” and "white” legislators will visit Taiwan’s Taiping Island to observe military drills and inspect new facilities on May 18, just two days before the inauguration of President-elect Lai Ching-te (賴清德).

Legislators from the Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People's Party (TPP) were originally scheduled to tour the island on May 16, but the trip was postponed due to legislative voting. The inspection team is to depart from the Legislative Yuan for Pingtung on the afternoon of May 17 and fly to Taiping Island the next morning, reported CNA.

Lawmakers are expected to stay on the island for 150 minutes to inspect combat readiness drills and the newly built pier, before returning to Pingtung at 1 p.m. 

Ma Wen-chun (馬文君), KMT legislator and convener of the Legislative Yuan's Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, will lead the delegation. Approximately 20 legislators from the KMT and TPP will participate. 

According to the itinerary provided by the committee, the Taiping Island inspection delegation will depart from the Legislative Yuan for Pingtung Air Base. At 7 a.m. on May 18, they will fly to Taiping Island, with an estimated arrival time of 10:30 a.m.

Upon arrival at Taiping Island, the delegation will proceed directly to a monument for a group photo, followed by a briefing on Taiping Island, observation of military drills, inspection of the newly built wharf, and a lunch on the island.

After the meal, the delegation will visit the island’s Guanyin Temple for blessings, before departing for Taiwan by plane at 1 p.m., with an expected arrival time at Pingtung Airport at 4:30 p.m.

Lawmakers who have registered to participate in the Taiping Island inspection include KMT legislators Ma Wen-chun, Johnny Chiang (江啟臣), Hsu Chiao-hsin (徐巧芯), Huang Ren (黃仁), Cheng Cheng-chien (鄭正鈐), Lai Shyh-bao (賴士葆), Wang Hong-wei (王鴻薇), Lo Ting-wei (羅廷瑋), Lin Szu-ming (林思銘), Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強), Weng Hsiao-ling (翁曉玲), Yu Hao (游顥), Huang Chien-hao (黃健豪), Liao Hsien-hsiang (廖先翔), Jonathan Lin (林沛祥), Su Ching-chuan (蘇清泉), and Chiu Chen-chun (邱鎮軍), as well as TPP legislators Lin Yi-chun (林憶君), Lin Kuo-cheng (林國成), and Chen Chao-tzu (陳昭姿). 

No Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators have registered for the inspection tour.