Taiwan demands evidence from Indonesia in shooting incident
ROC Central News Agency
2016/03/22 15:25:35
Taipei, March 22 (CNA) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Tuesday demanded that Indonesia provide evidence to support its claims that two Taiwanese fishing boats were poaching in its territorial waters and attempted to ram an Indonesian patrol vessel before they were fired upon on Monday.
If Indonesian authorities cannot give any further explanation, the government will not rule out the possibility of lodging a formal protest, the ministry said.
On Monday, the Coast Guard Administration received reports from the "Sheng Te Tsai" (聖德財號) and the "Lien I Hsing No. 116" (連億興116號) -- both registered in Liouciou Township of Pingtung County -- that two Indonesian vessels each fired at least four or five shots at them at 5:48 a.m. that day.
The incident was said to have occurred at the northern entrance of the Strait of Malacca, just over 100 kilometers from the northeastern coast of Sumatra, when the two Taiwanese boats were on their way to Singapore.
The two fishing boats had at least 10 shots fired at them during the incident, but nobody was injured, according to the Taiwanese ships involved.
Susi Pudjiastuti, Indonesia's minister of maritime affairs and fisheries, told CNA late Monday that the two Taiwanese fishing boats were found poaching in Indonesian territorial waters and that they were shot at after they ignored warning shots by Indonesian patrol vessels and instead attempted to ram one of the vessels.
She showed CNA a video lasting 1 minute and 32 seconds that showed an Indonesian patrol vessel trailing closely behind the "Sheng Te Tsai."
The patrol vessel flashed its spotlight at the fishing boat many times and signaled it to stop but did not receive any response from the Taiwanese boat, which continued to sail ahead.
The video, however, does not contain any images of the Taiwanese boat ramming the Indonesian patrol vessel or of it being shot at by the patrol vessel.
The MOFA said there was no way to judge from the video whether the two Taiwanese boats were engaging in any fishing activities at that time or whether they attempted to ram into the Indonesian vessels.
It said it has directed its representative office in Indonesia to ask the country's Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries to present evidence that the Taiwanese boats were guilty of irregularities.
Chang Liang-jen (張良任), Taiwan's representative to Indonesia, said Tuesday that he will meet with Indonesian fisheries and navy officials later in the day to discuss related issues.
Whatever the reason, Chang said, it was improper for Indonesian patrol vessels to use force against the Taiwanese fishing boats, and he expressed dissatisfaction over the incident.
He said he will request Indonesian authorities to contact Taiwan's representative office there if similar incidents occur in the future to prevent unnecessary misunderstandings.
(By Tai Ya-chen, Chou Yung-chieh and Y.F. Low)
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