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Philippine envoy apologizes to family of dead Taiwanese fisherman

ROC Central News Agency

2013/05/10 13:36:13

Taipei, May 10 (CNA) The representative of the Philippines to Taiwan Antonio Basilio apologized on Friday to the family of a Taiwanese fisherman shot dead a day earlier by a Philippine government vessel.

'We'd like to convey our sincerest condolences and apologies to the family' of the Taiwanese fisherman, Basilio told the local media after he was summoned to meet with Taiwan's Deputy Foreign Minister Joseph Shih at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taipei.

Hung Shih-cheng, 65, was shot dead by a member of the Philippine coast guard aboard the government vessel on Thursday morning, when the Taiwanese boat -- the Kuang Ta Hsing No. 28 -- was operating some 170 nautical miles off the southern coast of Taiwan, the ministry said.

'Words cannot express our sorrow for the loss of life of Mr. Hung,' Basilio said.

The Philippines has begun investigating the circumstances that led to the 'tragic incident,' and it welcomes a joint investigation by law enforcement authorities from the two sides to establish the location of the incident and what led to the shooting, he said.

'Should the investigation show there was a violation of international law and practice, and as well as our domestic law, we will let the law takes its course so that justice will be served,' he said.

Basilio said the Philippines cherishes the relations between the people of Taiwan and the Philippines. 'We don't want an incident like this to harm that relationship,' he said.

Foreign Minister David Lin said earlier Friday that he was angered by the actions of the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessel, which also had coast guard personnel on board.

The ministry will demand that the Philippines issue an apology for the incident, Lin said.

The ministry issued a statement Thursday condemning the shooting, which happened when the fishing boat was operating in waters in the overlapping economic zones of the two countries.

Lin also said the ministry has conveyed its condolences to the family of the deceased Taiwanese man.

Hung's son, son-in-law and an Indonesian fisherman were also on board when the shots were fired, according to a fishermen's association in Pingtung County.

(By Elaine Hou)
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