Phl, Taiwan to avoid force in sea disputes

MANILA, Philippines - Taiwan and the Philippines have pledged not to use force in resolving fishing disputes, officials said, as they tackle a row over the killing of a Taiwanese fisherman by members of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

In a statement posted on its website late Saturday, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said the agreement was reached during the first preparatory meeting on fishery cooperation held in Manila on Friday.

It said the accord was aimed at avoiding a recurrence of incidents such as the killing of 65-year-old Hung Shih-cheng, who died after his boat was fired upon by PCG men last May 9 while in waters near a Philippine island that Taiwan also claims as part of its economic zone.

“The two sides will reach concrete results in undertaking fishing disputes to avoid the use of force and violence in the future and to prevent unfortunate incidents from happening again,” the statement read.

The two sides agreed to share their maritime law enforcement procedures and establish means for notifying each other without delay whenever actions are taken against vessels and crews of the other party, it said.

They also agreed to develop a mechanism for the prompt release of detained fishing vessels and their crews, in line with international practice.

Further meetings would be held on fisheries cooperation including management and conservation schemes, it said.

The Taiwan side was represented by Deputy Director General Cai Yao of the Department of Fisheries while Antonio Basilio, executive director of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), led the Philippine panel.

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources director Asis Perez served as the main negotiator.

Meanwhile, MECO chairman Amadeo Perez was quoted in a television interview as saying that the Taiwanese officials were the ones who requested for the meeting.

The National Bureau of Investigation in Manila on Thursday said they had recommended that criminal charges be filed against PCG men involved in the fatal shooting after coastguard chiefs in Manila initially insisted the fishing vessel had tried to ram the coastguard boat and their personnel had fired in self-defense.

The killing caused outrage in Taiwan, with President Ma Ying-jeou describing it as “cold-blooded murder.”

His government ordered a freeze on the hiring of Filipinos to work in Taiwan, issued a “red-alert” warning tourists against traveling to the Philippines and staged naval drills near Philippine waters.

President Aquino repeatedly apologized and sent an envoy to Taiwan, but these actions were rejected as insincere.

Following pressure from Taiwan, the Philippines agreed to joint investigations into the incident.

Taiwanese authorities were allowed to visit the Philippines, inspect the ship and interview the coastguard personnel involved.

The Taiwan investigators concluded that two guns were used in the attack, including a M14 rifle that fired the fatal shot.

Adding to the anger in Taiwan, authorities said the fishing boat had 50 bullet holes and there were no marks consistent with it ramming the coastguard vessel.