Taiwan rules out armed conflict with PHL over fisherman's death

From GMA News (May 14): Taiwan rules out armed conflict with PHL over fisherman's death

Although it is not discounting additional sanctions against the Philippines for the fatal shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman in disputed waters last May 9, Taiwan does not consider armed conflict against the Philippines as an option.

Taiwanese foreign affairs minister David Lin also admitted thre is little if any chance of joint cooperation in protecting fishing boats in disputed waters, Taipei Times reported Tuesday.

“We do not rule out additional sanctions,” the report quoted Lin as saying, but added he said armed conflict is not an option.

When Taiwanese lawmakers asked him about the chances of cooperation between Taiwan and China in protecting fishing boats in disputed waters, Lin said he “didn’t see this happening.”

 

He pointed out the Philippines upholds “One China” policy, where it maintains diplomatic ties with Beijing but only economic ties with Taipei, which Beijing considers a province.

 Last May 9, Philippine authorities fired on the Taiwanese fishing boat Kuang Ta Hsing No. 28, killing fisherman Hung Shih-cheng, 65. The Coast Guard said the boat tried to ram them.

An outraged President Ma Ying-jeou demanded an apology from the Philippines.

He also demanded compensation for Hung’s relatives, as well as an investigation of the incident and punishment for the guilty.

Ma Ying-jeou also demanded that Taiwan and the Philippines start talks on a fisheries agreement. 

 Otherwise, he said that if Manila does not respond by midnight Tuesday, Taiwan may freeze Philippine workers’ applications, recall Taiwan’s representative to the Philippines and expel Basilio. 

Taiwan awaits Manila response

For now, Taiwan expects to hear before midnight Tuesday a formal response from Manila on its demands stemming from the shooting.

Lin said Philippine representative to Taiwan Antonio Basilio assured him Malacañang will have a formal response before the deadline lapses.

He said Basilio had promised him Sunday night he would “make the utmost efforts” to find a solution to the situation.

ut he said Taiwan will immediately impose sanctions, including the freezing of applications of Filipino migrant workers, if Taipei finds Manila’s response unacceptable.

“We will immediately impose the sanctions if we find the response from (Manila) to be unacceptable,” Taipei Times quoted Lin as saying before lawmakers at a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Anna Kao also said the ministry had learned that Basilio is scheduled to return to Taipei Tuesday.

 'Confidential meeting'

Also, the Taipei Times cited a Central News Agency report from Manila claiming Aquino  presided over a confidential meeting Monday.

Basilio reportedly attended the meeting, which discussed the issue.

 

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/308257/news/nation/taiwan-rules-out-armed-conflict-with-phl-over-fisherman-s-death