• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Taiwan pushing its case aggressively in row with Manila: MOFA

ROC Central News Agency

2013/05/18 17:42:52

Taipei, May 18 (CNA) Taiwan has been aggressive in making its case to the global community in its dispute with the Philippines over the recent killing of a Taiwanese fisherman by Philippine Coast Guard personnel, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Saturday.

Taiwan's representative offices in foreign countries, including the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States, have been explaining Taiwan's stand and soliciting global support, said ministry spokesperson Anna Kao.

Their efforts have drawn a positive response so far, Kao said, noting that many U.S. congressmen have shown support for Taiwan's appeal.

King Pu-tsung, Taiwan's top envoy to the U.S., has been advocating Taiwan's position through think tanks, media outlets and opinion leaders, Kao said.

In response to Taiwan's diplomacy, U.S. House Representative Robert Brady has written to President Ma Ying-jeou to show support and to Philippine President Benigno Aquino III to call for a response.

Steve Chabot, chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific under the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and ranking member Eni Faleomaveaga also issued a joint statement earlier this week that urged the Philippines to apologize to Taiwan.

'A government vessel's shooting of an unarmed fishing boat is an act of violence, and is in violation of international law,' the statement said.

The call was echoed by Matt Salmon, chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere.

'I urge the Philippine government to fully apologize, provide appropriate compensation for the crewman's family, and conduct a thorough investigation of this matter in order to ensure accountability,' Salmon said in a statement.

The diplomatic row erupted after a joint patrol of the Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources sprayed bullets at a Taiwanese fishing boat, the Kuang Ta Hsing No. 28, while it was operating in the overlapping economic zones of the two countries on May 9.

A 65-year-old crewman, Hung Shih-cheng from Pingtung County, was shot dead in the incident.

While acknowledging Manila's official apology over the fatal shooting, the Foreign Ministry has insisted that the Philippine response to Taiwan's demands has not been 'positive, sufficient and concrete' enough.

(By Angela Tsai and Lee Hsin-Yin)
ENDITEM/ls