我國海洋發展，起源甚早。在漢朝時，海洋貿易即已到達印度半島東岸，唐朝時更延伸至阿拉伯半島，至明朝鄭和「七下西洋」，更遠及非洲東岸，可說是我國海權發展之巔峰。而我國傳統對海權所表現出的態勢，亦僅在於「海軍展示、宣揚國威、防範海寇侵略」等防禦性為目的，此相對於西方國家運用海軍訪問他國，建構兵臨城下的壓迫性「艦砲外交」做法，不啻南轅北轍，更凸顯我中華民族泱泱大國的風範。

       近代最早的敦睦遠航訓練活動，應溯源自清光緒七年（西元1881年）北洋艦隊自英國購置超勇、揚威兩艦，由英國經地中海、印度洋、途中順道訪問新加坡後返國。而光緒十七年北洋艦隊提督丁汝昌曾率鎮遠、定遠、致遠等六艦，赴日本長崎訪問，可視為我國海軍艦隊訪問鄰邦之首例。至於有系統的宣慰僑胞，則以光緒三十三年何品璋率海容、海籌兩艦訪問西貢、新加坡等東南亞港口為肇始。迄民國時期，雖因軍閥割據，造成海軍發展受限，然於民國二十六年，亦由我自建「自由中國號」運兵船，遂行東南亞宣慰僑胞之任務。抗戰勝利後，於民國三十五年間，我海軍太平、永興等四艘軍艦，更收復西沙、南沙等島嶼，則為我海軍主權宣示之最重要活動。

       政府播遷來台後，於民國四十二年，復由海軍總司令馬紀壯上將率丹陽、太湖、太昭等三艦訪問菲律賓，則為在復興基地首次執行的敦睦遠航訓練活動。直自民國五十六年起，每年均編組艦隊訪問友邦，其目的在於：驗證官校學生所學、訓練艦隊遠航能力、宣揚國家建設、展示海軍武力、增進受訪國家邦誼、鼓舞僑胞愛國情操等，對海軍艦隊訓練、敦睦友邦邦誼、凝聚僑胞向心，實有助益。

 The History of R.O.C. Navy Goodwill Cruise Training Squadron

 　The Chinese ocean activity can be traced back to Han Dynasty, when the oceanic trade has reached the east coast of India sub-continent. In Tang Dynasty, it has extended to Arabian Peninsula, and it has further extended to the east coast of Africa when Cheng-Ho conducted his world famous seven Southeast Asia and Indian Ocean tours in Ming Dynasty, indicating our sea power development has reach its peak time. The Chinese tradition views the demonstration of sea power as a long-term power cruising on the sea and the demonstration of political ideology, as well as emphasizes its superior position and the implementation of tribute system and trade. This is invariance with the hegemonic interference diplomacy used by the Western Powers in recent history.

 　The first good-will cruise in the recent history can be traced back to 1881. Two British-built warships, Chao-Yung and Yang-Wei, purchased by China, sailed from Britain back to China via Mediterranean Sea, Indian Ocean and Singapore in that year. In 1891, Admiral Ting, Ruh-Chang led Chen-Yuan, Ding-Yuan, Chi-Yuan, and other three war ships to visit Nagasaki, Japan , and this overseas visit can be regarded as the debut of the Chinese navy good-will cruise squadron. The systematic overseas visit was first implemented in 1907, when Admiral Ho, Pin-Jang headed two warships, Hai-Rong and Hai-Cho, to visit Saigon, Singapore and several ports in Southeast Asia . After the establishment of the R.O.C. in 1911, despite of its development of navy being interfered by warlord regimes, in 1937 navy still sent transportation ship, Free China, to comfort overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia.  During the period of 1946, the ROC Navy recovered Paracel Islands and Spratly Islands with the ROCS Tai-Ping, ROCS Yung-Hsing and other two warships.  The most important purpose of this cruise is sovereignty declaration.

 　In 1953, Admiral Ma, Chih-Chuang, Commander-in-Chief of ROC Navy, led ROCS Dang-Yang, ROCS Tai-Hu, and ROCS Tai-Chao to visit the Philippines, which is the first good-will cruise conducted since ROC government removed to Taiwan. Since 1967, the ROC Navy good-will cruise squadron has visited several countries annually at an aim with demonstrating the abilities of midshipmen, acquiring oceangoing capabilities, showing the flag, improving international relationships, and encouraging overseas Chinese patriotism. The ROC Navy good-will cruise squadron is greatly beneficial to consolidating overseas Chinese, and to improving the relationships between ROC and visited countries

（軍聞社記者李岳耿台北十日電）海軍九八敦睦遠航訓練支隊國內環島航訓，將於三月六日起至廿八日分別前往高雄、台南、澎湖、台中、基隆、蘇澳、花蓮等港口靠泊，屆時將開放民眾登艦參觀，歡迎國人前往，體驗一趟極具國防知性意義的「艦艇之旅」。

　海軍敦睦遠航訓練是海軍每年的例行任務，也是海軍的光榮傳統，主要任務是執行海軍官校及政戰學院海軍組應屆畢業生的遠航訓練，使學生能將在校所學理論與艦艇航行實務相結合，並藉由國內、外港口停留訪問，達成敦睦邦誼、宣慰僑胞、教育訓練等多重目標。

　海軍司令部指出，今年敦睦遠航訓練納編武昌及承德軍艦，而國內環島航訓時程及地點分別為三月六、七日在高雄港新濱碼頭；三月八、九日在台南安平港；三月十三、十四日在馬公海軍基地；三月十五、十六日在台中港；三月廿、廿一日在基隆港；三月廿二、廿三日在蘇澳海軍基地；三月廿七、廿八日在花蓮港，對外開放時間則為上午九時至下午四時，請民眾把握機會前往參觀。