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Operation against hijacked Taiwanese boat legal: U.S. Navy

ROC Central News Agency

2011/07/26 16:07:24

By Zep Hu, Chou Yung-chieh and Elaine Hou

Washington, July 25 (CNA) A U.S. navy operation in May against a Taiwanese-flagged fishing vessel hijacked by Somali pirates was in accordance with existing rules of engagement and in compliance with international law, the U.S. Fifth Fleet said in a statement Monday.

Part of a NATO-led counter-piracy operation in the Indian Ocean, the USS Stephen W. Groves exchanged fire on May 10 with the Taiwanese boat Jih Chun Tsai 68, which had been held by Somali pirates as a mother-ship since March 2010.

The operation, which led to the death of the ship's Taiwanese skipper, Wu Lai-yu, sparked anger among Wu's family and other fishermen in Taiwan, who questioned the U.S.' use of force and handling of the captain's body.

The U.S. government ordered an investigation into the incident, which found that the Stephen W. Groves was authorized to use force against the pirates onboard the Jih Chun Tsai, and that it used it appropriately.

"During the operation, Stephen W. Groves conducted a graduated use of force in an attempt to compel the pirates to surrender, including verbal warnings, warning shots fired in front of the bow, and additional rounds fired in an attempt to disable pirate skiffs," the statement said.

The pirates responded by firing AK-47 assault rifles at the U.S. Navy warship and then surrendered after an exchange of fire, the statement said, with the captain apparently caught in the crossfire.

"Based on after action reports and investigation findings, the inquiry concluded that the Jih Chun Tsai's master, Wu Lai-yu, and three pirates were killed inadvertently by Stephen W. Groves ordnance used to free the mother-ship and disable the pirate skiffs," the statement said.

A day earlier, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), the de facto U.S. embassy in Taiwan in the absence of official ties, presented the report on the anti-piracy operation to Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to explain Wu's death.

The report was not well received by Wu's family and local lawmakers, however, because the U.S. failed to apologize for the captain's death or offer compensation.