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Philippine vessel violated international law in shooting: MOFA

ROC Central News Agency

2013/05/27 23:14:32

Taipei, May 27 (CNA) Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said on Monday that a Philippine government vessel that sprayed bullets at a Taiwanese fishing boat on May 9 has violated international laws and should shoulder its responsibility to the Republic of China.

The ministry said the vessel, jointly manned by the Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, chased and then used excessive force to attack Taiwanese fishing boat, Kuang Ta Hsing No. 28, operating in the overlapping economic zones of the two countries.

A Taiwanese fisherman, 65-year-old Hung Shih-cheng, was shot dead and the boat's engine and other major equipment were damaged.

The Filipino ship involved was representing its government in executing official duties, and its "wrongful acts" should be blamed on the Filipino government, the ministry said.

The ministry pointed out the Philippines violated the principle of avoiding the use of force and basic procedure before using force, such as firing signal lights, blowing the siren and spraying water from water cannon and not to use force exceeding "reasons and necessity."

The attack cannot be excused by the Filipino government claims of basing on "self-defense."

Manila also violated the proportion of the use of force, the ministry said.

It pointed out that the Taiwanese fishing boat weighs only 15.15 tons and has a length of 14.7 meters, compared with the Filipino government vessel of 114.45 tons, with a length of 30 meters.

Initial investigation showed that at least 45 rounds of bullets hit the body of the boat, most of them focused on the cabin where crew members were hiding, showing an intention to kill.

The Philippines also violated the "human rights" principle under the international law, the foreign ministry said, adding that the Filipino ship fired on the unarmed Taiwanese boat with no regard to the safety of crew members aboard.

Manila also violated the international maritime practice of an obligation to provide assistance to ships in distress, the ministry pointed out.

(By Angela Tsai and Lilian Wu)