Japanese in relay swim to Taiwan
To express gratitude for Taiwan's help :
JAPAN: Six Japanese swimmers have started a 150-kilometre
(94-mile) relay swim to Taiwan from a Japanese islet to express
gratitude for Taiwan’s help after the tsunami, officials said Sunday.
The swimmers started their 48-hour relay swim early Saturday morning
from Yonakuni 110 kilometres east of Taiwan, according to the state
Central News Agency.
But the swimmers will have to make a detour because of a strong
Pacific Ocean current, extending their planned swim to around 150
kilometres, the organisers said in a statement to local media. The group
is scheduled to arrive in Suao, a port in northeastern Ilan county,
Monday morning to a grand welcoming ceremony, county government
officials said.
Taiwan donated more than 20 billion yen ($2.6 billion) to Japan in
the wake of the deadly March earthquake and tsunami, making it one of
the top donors.
Taiwan maintains cordial ties with Japan despite its past as a
Japanese colony from 1895 to 1945, and despite the fact that Tokyo
recognises Beijing over Taipei.
AFP |