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Philippine envoy to return to Taiwan Tuesday

ROC Central News Agency

2013/05/13 22:46:27

Taiwanese Foreign Minister David Lin (second left) and the Philippines' representative to Taiwan Antonio Basilio (left) look at the attacked fishing boat Saturday.

Taipei, May 13 (CNA) The Philippines' representative to Taiwan, Antonio Basilio, who returned to Manila Monday to discuss the handling of a diplomatic row over the Philippines' attack on a Taiwanese fishing boat on May 9, will return to Taiwan on Tuesday, an official said.

Basilio informed Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs of his return to the Philippines for the meeting to discuss the handling of the shooting incident, and indicated that he will return to Taiwan the following day, said ministry spokeswoman Anna Kao .

Basilio said he would report to the Philippine government on Taiwan's stance over the matter, provide first-hand information he obtained during his visit to the family of the deceased man and his observation of the damaged boat, according to Kao.

The shooting of a Taiwanese fishing boat by a Philippine government vessel, which caused the death of a fisherman, has resulted in mounting tensions between Taipei and Manila.

Taiwan is asking the Philippines to issue a formal apology, compensate the victim's family for its loss, investigate the incident and punish the perpetrators, and open fishery agreement talks with Taiwan as soon as possible.

If Manila does not issue an appropriate response by midnight Tuesday, the Taiwan government will "immediately" suspend the processing of applications by Filipinos seeking employment in Taiwan and recall its representative to the Philippines, Foreign Minister David Lin said.

Speaking to reporters in Manila Monday morning, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III appealed for calm in the handling of the May 9 shooting incident.

Taiwan's Presidential Office spokeswoman Garfie Li, in response, called on the people of Taiwan to remain calm and to refrain from aggressive behavior toward Filipinos in Taiwan while urging the Philippine government to take Taiwan's demands seriously.

Taiwanese boat, Kuang Ta Hsing No. 28, was strafed by a joint patrol of the Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources while operating in the overlapping economic zones of the two countries.

A 65-year-old Taiwanese fisherman, Hung Shih-cheng, was shot dead in the incident.

Basilio visited the family of the deceased fisherman Saturday and offered an apology and his condolences. But the Taiwan government is still demanding an official apology from the Philippine government.

(By Elaine Hou)