Amid leader's call for calm, Taiwan 'offensive' vs PHL continues

From GMA News (May 19): Amid leader's call for calm, Taiwan 'offensive' vs PHL continues

Despite its leader's call for calm amid outrage over the fatal shooting of a fisherman last May 9, Taiwan is continuing its official offensive against the Philippines, this time via cyberspace.

The websites of Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and embassies, including the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, contained a microsite about the May 9 incident.

"It's a cold-blooded murder, not an 'unintended' loss of life'!" read the message on the link to the microsite, which was positioned prominently on the MOFA's homepage.

A screenshot of the home page of Taiwan's foreign affairs ministry as of 7:43 p.m. Saturday. Despite calls by Taiwan's president for calm, the link to the microsite accuses the PHL of "cold-blooded murder."
 

Also, the link showed a supposed illustration of the Philippine marine surveillance vessel firing on the Taiwanese fishing boat Guang Da Xing No. 28 during their May 9 encounter.

A screenshot of the microsite of Taiwan's Foreign Affairs Ministry on the May 9 incident where a Taiwanese fisherman was killed. MOFA website
 

The microsite was still live as of 8 p.m. Saturday, hours after Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou called for calm amid reports of Taiwanese taking out their anger on Filipinos in Taiwan.

Visitors who click on the link would be taken to the microsite titled "Latest on the Philippine attack on an ROC fishing boat."

A report on Taiwan News said the MOFA had said it would "instruct its 118 overseas offices to explain Taiwan’s position to their host countries, while it would also have a special section on its web site."

A screenshot of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office website as of 7:44 p.m. Saturday, with articles on Taiwan's actions against the Philippines positioned prominently on the site. TECO website
 

The May 9 incident prompted Taiwan to impose sanctions on the Philippines, including a freeze on the hiring of new laborers from the Philippines, and a travel alert discouraging travel to the Philippines.

But the incident also prompted many Taiwanese to attack Filipino workers there, prompting the Manila Economic and Cultural Office to advise the Filipinos to lie low while tension remains high.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/309100/news/nation/amid-leader-s-call-for-calm-taiwan-offensive-vs-phl-continues