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Manila gives 'some response' to Taiwan's demands

ROC Central News Agency

2013/05/15 03:46:33

Taipei, May 15 (CNA) The Philippines has given "some positive response" to Taiwan's demands over the shooting of a Taiwanese fishing boat and the killing of a crewman on board by a Philippine official vessel May 9, said Foreign Minister David Lin early Wednesday.

Both sides will have to hold further discussion to ensure that the Philippines has fully met the demands, Lin told a press conference held in the wee hours of Wednesday after meeting Antonio I. Basilio, resident representative of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO).

In an ultimatum issued on May 11, Taiwan asked the Philippines to officially apologize, compensate the victim's family for their loss, conduct an investigation as soon as possible and bring those responsible to justice, and begin talks on the signing of a bilateral fishery agreement at the earliest possible date.

If the demands were not met in 72 hours (by midnight Tuesday), Taiwan would suspend processing the applications for the employment of Filipino workers, recall Taiwan's representative to Manila and ask the Philippines' representative to Taiwan to return to his home country to help handle the case.

Whether the punitive measures will take effect depends on the Philippines' further response, said Lin.

Taiwan will send a group of investigators to the Philippines Thursday to look into the incident, said Lin, while Philippine investigators will also come to Taiwan to collect evidence on the matter.

The ministry said that it will continue to demand the Philippines provide proper compensation to the family of the deceased fisherman and make sure that similar incident will not happen again.

Meanwhile, Taiwan's Navy and Coast Guard Administration will continue their efforts to protect Taiwanese fishermen operating in the area near where the incident occurred, Lin said.

The Kuang Ta Hsing No. 28, a 15-ton fishing boat from southern Taiwan, was strafed by a joint patrol vessel of the Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources while operating in the overlapping economic zones of the two countries.

Hung Shih-cheng, a 65-year-old fisherman, was shot dead in the incident, which caused an outrage and triggered angry protests around Taiwan.

(By Elaine Hou)