Shooting of Taiwanese fisherman in disputed waters?

MANILA, Philippines - With the Philippines’ and Taiwan’s “overlapping” exclusive economic zones (EEZ), the fatal shooting of a Taiwanese fishermen off Batanes last May 9 could be said to have taken place in disputed waters, according to Taipei officials.

The Taipei Economic & Cultural Office in the Philippines (TECO) presented a map made by Taiwan Fisheries Agency purportedly showing the overlapping EEZ.

David Chen, assistant to Taiwan’s representative in Manila, said on Monday that Taiwan could prove that the location of the shooting of the fisherman happened in disputed waters.

“We have the preliminary report and our team is to present that to their counterparts. We have the evidence that this happened in overlapping EEZ. It happened 39 nautical miles away from Batanes,” Chen told reporters.

“We are entitled to claim EEZ and we operate within our EEZ,” he added.

The Taiwan investigating team said on Saturday in a press briefing that a video recording of the May 9 incident by the crew of Taiwanese fishing vessel Guang Ta Hsin 28, showed the vessel was within the EEZ of Taiwan and not in Philippine waters.

But on Monday, TECO said Taiwan and the Philippines share overlapping EEZ.

Chen said yesterday that the Philippines’ EEZ reaches up to central Taiwan and that a negotiation to correct the matter is timely.

“Yesterday I showed you another map. Actually the Philippine EEZ is up to central Taiwan. I think probably the two sides have to talk. The Philippines and Taiwan have claims, that is why the spirit of UNCLOS provides that if you have disputes you have to discuss it and reach an agreement,” Chen told The STAR.

“As I explained to you, Taiwan is willing to have negotiation with the Philippine side and actually I think really now is the time and this incident provides an opportunity to settle the issue peacefully,” Chen said. “You have your EEZ all the way to central Taiwan. That is why this is the truth, this is your claim.”