Taiwan protests deployment of Phl ships

MANILA, Philippines - Taiwan has protested to the Philippines the deployment of naval vessels around an islet in the Spratlys, according to Taipei’s representative office in Manila.

In an email to media on Saturday, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) said, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses its serious concern and firm opposition over the Philippines’ dispatch of naval vessels to Renai (Second Thomas) Shoal in the Nansha (Spratly) Islands.

“Whether looked at from the perspective of history, geography, or international law, the Spratly Islands, Xisha (Paracel) Islands, Zhongsha Islands (Macclesfield Bank), and Dongsha (Pratas) Islands, as well as their surrounding waters, are unquestionably the sovereign territory of the Republic of China,” it said.

TECO said Taiwan “enjoys all rights over these four island groups and their surrounding waters.”

The statement said Taiwan was calling on claimant countries “to abide by the principles and spirit of international law, temper their actions, and refrain from implementing unilateral measures that could affect peace and stability in the South China Sea.”

Taiwan also called for dialogue and cooperation “to seek a peaceful resolution” to maritime disputes.

The TECO statement said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Council of Labor Affairs traveled to Hsinchu County’s Zhubei City last May 24 to meet with Filipino employees of ChipMos Technologies Ltd.

A Taiwan foreign affairs official was quoted as saying the government “will spare no effort to maintain a safe and friendly environment for Filipinos in Taiwan.”

“The Filipino workers will be able to experience the friendliness of the peace-loving people of Taiwan,” the official said.

“All relevant government agencies will coordinate efforts to ensure the welfare of Filipinos in Taiwan. The government will continue to monitor the well-being of Philippine nationals in Taiwan, providing appropriate and timely assistance,”  the official added.

The Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established a webpage on the May 9 shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman.

The website, http://www.mofa.gov.tw/gdx, provides “relevant government statements, press releases, videos, illustrated pamphlets and domestic news coverage, in English and Chinese.”

“ ’The facts of May 9, 2013,’ also provides links to Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus and Plurk, making it easy for concerned readers to share information on this unfortunate incident,” the webpage said.

Fishermen safe in Batanes

Despite their island’s proximity to Taiwan, fishermen in Batanes remain safe.

Basco, the capital of Batanes, is approximately 90 nautical miles south of Kaoshiung City, Taiwan’s southernmost city.

Y’Ami Island, where local fishermen usually stay for four straight days, is only four hours away from Kaoshiung.

Fisherman in Batanes could see at a distance Taiwan’s waters, but foreign fishing boats do not attempt to communicate with them.

The reported intrusion of Chinese fishermen in the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc and Patag island in the Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea has not affected the daily catch of fishermen.

At least a dozen local fishing boats regularly fish in the northern waters.

Fishermen in Batanes believe unidentified foreign vessels are well within the International Treaty Limits – outside Philippine waters.

Batanes Gov. Vicente Gato said he has not received any report of sightings of foreign fishing vessels in the northern Batanes waters since the alleged killing of a Taiwanese fisherman near Balintang Island in Cagayan province recently.

A Taiwanese newspaperman in Kaoshiung told The STAR yesterday through cell phone that family members of slain fisherman Go Du Cen  have appealed to their compatriots to refrain from harming overseas Filipino workers in Taiwan.

Newspaperman Arfen Wang said, “The Go family remains in Lucho Island, where they are very sought after. They are, however, concerned for the safety of several Filipinos working here.”    – With Jack Castaño