The Tao people of Orchid Island have launched the "golden friendship," their largest 20-seater plank boat ever built. It will depart on June 15, sailing against the Kuroshio Current towards the Batanes Islands in the Philippines, recreating the ancient sea route used for exchanges between Orchid Island and the Batanes 300 years ago.

The traditional watercraft is a collaborative project between the Council of Indigenous Peoples (CIP), the Indigenous Peoples Cultural Foundation (IPCF), and the Tao tribes of Orchid Island. CIP Minister Ljaucu Zingrur (曾智勇) stated at the launching ceremony that the maritime wisdom of the indigenous peoples is not only an important asset of their tribes, but also a cultural strength of the nation. He said that this voyage is both an exchange and a form of diplomacy and education.

IPCF Chairperson Maraos (瑪拉歐斯) detailed that the boat took three years to prepare and that the "golden friendship" is one of the largest traditional Tao plank boats of modern times, approximately 12 meters long and capable of carrying 20 people. He said that with 60 people — some carried in an accompanying ship — rowing in shifts, the journey is expected to take two days and one night.

Led by the zero-carbon emission Porrima P111, a fleet of seven escort vessels will provide support services, combining modern sustainable technology with traditional maritime skill to showcase Taiwan's Austronesian heritage to the world. Maraos stated that he hopes this voyage will allow the world to again witness the spirit and navigational prowess of the Tao people, and also let Pacific nations see the strength of Taiwan's indigenous peoples.