Taiwan Rejects Philippines Apology, Recalls Envoy, Freezes Hiring Of Filipinos Over Fisherman’s Shooting

Taiwan on Wednesday recalled its envoy to the Philippines and suspended recruitment process for Filipino workers over Manila's handling of the shooting death of a Taiwanese fisherman by Philippines coast guard last Thursday.

Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou's office expressed "strong dissatisfaction" over an apology issued by the Philippines representative in Taipei, saying the Philippines government lacked sincerity and was offering "reckless and perfunctory responses,"

Taiwan's Premier Jiang Yi-huah also registered displeasure over the apology, saying Taipei wants to be informed about whether the culprit will be charged, jailed or dismissed.

"The shooting was conducted by one of its civil servants, and its government could not evade the responsibility," the premier said adding Taiwan will not accept anything short of a Philippines government apology.

Jiang said the Taiwanese navy and coast guard will stage a two-day military drill in the disputed Bashi Strait to showcase the country's naval strength.

The incident early reported by China websites showing a map in Balintang Channel but the late report claimed to be Bashi Channel, a waterway passage in between Y'ami Island of the Philippines and Orchid Island controlled by Taiwan which also claimed by the Philippines.

Taipei has also demanded compensation for the victim's family and the commencement of bilateral fishing talks which the Philippines earlier admit to compensate the victim.

Early on Wednesday, Antonio Basilio, head of the Philippines Representative Office in Taiwan, apologized over the incident, after a three-day deadline set by Taiwan for an apology expired, the BBC reported.

Basilio said Manila had agreed to compensate the fisherman's family and conduct a joint investigation into the incident.

Earlier Reported by Chinese News that the Incident happened in "Balintang Channel" a place near Babuyan Island which is not disputed by any countries.  Going North to Taiwan from Luzon Islands would be Basco Batanes, Itbayat Island, North island and Y'ami island. in 2006 China listed 2 Filipino Police who shoot and killed Taiwanese Fishermen fishing 500 Meters from the shore near Basco Batanes. 

"The Filipino people and the government understand the hurt and grief that the Taiwanese people have felt as result of the death of one of their own fellow citizens," Basilio said.

Philippines coast guard personnel opened fire on the Taiwanese boat, the Kuang Ta Hsing No. 28, from a vessel that belonged to the fisheries division of the Philippines Department of Agriculture, in the disputed Bashi Strait, between Taiwan and the northern Philippines, last Thursday.

Previously, Philippines officials said the shooting was in self-defense because the Taiwanese boat was about to ram BFAR a Philippines ship.

China has sought to show common cause with Taiwan on the issue since Beijing regards Taiwan as a rebel region that needs to be reunited with the mainland, although Taiwan gained independence in 1950.

Approximately 87,000 Filipinos work in Taiwan, many are employed as domestic workers and also in the manufacturing sector.

The South China Sea and West Philippine Sea region has long been a bone of contention among several South East Asian nations, with overlapping territorial claims by China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei leading to tensions in recent months.

With report from International Business Times

Continue reading

Philippines bowed to Taiwan and will announce a public Apology for the Shootout in Balintang Channel

Warships presence of Taiwan Republic of China would be doubled for fire drill as enemy inside the Philippine territory particularly in the Balintang Channel, near Babuyan Island if the Philippines will not ask public apology. Map from Google

Philippines says sorry to Taiwan

TAIPEI (UPDATED) - The Philippines on Wednesday apologised to Taiwan over the shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman by coastguards last week that sparked public outrage and tensions between Taipei and Manila.

Taiwan foreign minister David Lin told reporters that "the Philippines has voiced deep regret and apology for the incident" after a closed-door meeting with Antonio Basilio, the de facto Philippine ambassador to Taipei.

The Philippine government will send a special envoy to Taiwan to convey his apologies and condolences to the family of 65-year-old fisherman Hung Shih-cheng, who was shot dead on Thursday, Basilio said.

"Chairman (Amadeo) Perez will repeat his deep regret and apology from the people of the Philippines to the people of Taiwan and the family of Mr. Hung for the grief and suffering from his death," Basilio said.

Perez Jr. is chairman of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) that represents the Philippines' interest in Taiwan.

Taiwan had demanded an apology by midnight Tuesday (1600 GMT), saying that otherwise it would conduct a naval drill in waters near the Philippines. It had also threatened to freeze the sending of Philippine workers to the island.

The two sides also agreed to jointly launch an investigation into the incident, that has sparked outrage in Taiwan.

On Monday, hundreds of angry fishermen burned Philippine flags and hurled eggs at Manila's de facto embassy in Taipei.

"The Philippines has made some positive reactions towards our demand," Lin said when asked if his government would still consider sanctions against Manila, adding that the pledges from the Philippine government would need to be further evaluated.

ABS-CBN News

Continue reading

Taiwan - China Threatens to Halt Filipino Hiring Over Fisherman’s Death

Taiwanese Fishermen shoot dead by Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) found poaching in Balintang Channel, Basco Batanes, the Philippines. Should the Philippines will ask apology for killing the poachers inside the Philippines waters during their operation? This Balintng Channel is not a contested area because this is the Philippine Water within or in the middle of the Philippines Islands and not in any boundaries. China and Taiwan are used to poached and fish inside the Philippines  because the Philippines is a weak country who do not have capability to guard its waters. China and Taiwan were used to abused the Weak Philippines and now demanding for apology for the death of the Taiwanese poachers inside the Philippines Waters. If you are the owner of the house, and you found the thieves inside stealing your assets and attempted to kill you so you fight back and killed the thieves, are you going to ask apology? . Map from Google

Taiwan President Ma Ying-Jeou threatened to recall his representative to the Philippines and freeze labor applications if its neighbor fails to respond within 72 hours to requests for an apology and an investigation into the shooting of a fisherman last week.

Ma issued "four solemn requests" after a Philippines patrol boat shot the fisherman dead on May 9, including compensation, commencement of talks over fishing rights and punishment of the perpetrators, the presidential office said in a statement on its Website last night.

Taiwan fishing vessel Kuang Ta Hsing No. 28 was hit by at least 32 bullets, killing a 65-year-old crew member, 164 nautical miles (304 km) southeast of Taiwan's southern tip in waters north of the Philippines. The Philippine Coast Guard will investigate the incident, its commander, Rear Admiral Rodolfo Isorena, said May 10.

Failure to respond within the time line, which commenced May 12, will result in Taiwan protesting by halting applications by Filipino workers, recalling Taiwan's representative to the Philippines and sending the Philippines' representative back to deal with the case, according to the statement.

To contact the reporter on this story: Tim Culpan in Taipei at tculpan1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Michael Tighe at mtighe4@bloomberg.net; Bruce Grant at bruceg@bloomberg.net; Dick Schumacher at dschumacher@bloomberg.net

Bloomberg

Continue reading