The Government of the Republic of China on Taiwan has
demanded 72 hours response from the Government of Philippine over the attack on
a Taiwanese fishing boat and death of its national.
“The shooting attack on Republic of China fishing boat Guang Da Xing No. 28, by a Philippine government vessel resulted in the death of ROC crew member Hong Shi-cheng, as well as serious damage to the boat which left it adrift,” Taiwanese government says.
According to a media dispatch issued by the ROC government through its Embassy in Banjul, the Philippine government vessel then sailed away without offering any assistance, in violation of international law and failing to show a humanitarian spirit. The ROC cannot accept that the Philippine government would be so remiss in carrying out its obligations.
“The ROC government asks that the Philippine government respond to four demands: a formal apology; compensation; an expeditious investigation followed by the severe punishment of the perpetrators, and the speedy arrangement of negotiations on fishery matters. If the Philippine government does not respond positively to those demands within 72 hours of midnight, May 12, the ROC government will take the following measures in protest: suspending applications by labourers from the Philippines, recalling the ROC envoy to the Philippines, and sending the Philippine representative to Taiwan back to his home country to help with the proper resolution of this incident.”
It further stated that after the Guang Da Xing No. 28 was towed to Da Fu Port on Xiao Liuqiu, an ROC prosecutor went aboard the boat and discovered 52 bullet holes around the vessel and that Hong Shi-cheng had indeed been shot dead.
The Philippine government vessel’s shooting of an unarmed fishing boat is an unconscionable cold-blooded act of violence. No claim of self-defense can justifiably be made by the Philippines.
The ROC government has shown consistent determination to defend sovereignty, fishing rights, and its citizens’ rights and interests. The shooting, and the subsequent reluctance of the Philippines to offer a formal apology, has aroused strong indignation of the government and people of the Republic of China. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs therefore requests that the Philippine government faces this issue squarely and responds positively and in a timely fashion to its demands, it stated.
Meanwhile, latest reports from Taipei stated that The Republic of China reiterates that the Republic of Philippine must make a formal apology immediately for the May 9 attack on ROC fishing boat Guang Da Xing No. 28
It said that the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan) cannot accept the statement of the Philippine Presidential Deputy Spokesperson Abigail Valte, issued by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, as it does not contain a formal apology.
The ROC Ministry reiterated that the Philippine government ought to immediately respond to its four demands: a formal apology, compensation, an expeditious investigation followed by the severe punishment of the perpetrators, and the speedy arrangement of negotiations on fishery matters.
The release added that regarding the shooting attack on ROC fishing boat Guang Da Xing No. 28 by a Philippine government vessel, the ROC first made its demands of the Philippines on May 11. The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs subsequently issued a statement today, expressing that the government of Philippine conveyed its “sincere and deepest sympathies and condolences” to the family of the slain Hong Shi-cheng. It stated that Antonio I. Basilio, Philippine envoy to Taiwan, had already traveled to Hong’s home to offer condolences and an apology, noting that all personnel serving on the Philippine Coast Guard vessel MCS3001 had been suspended and were immediately placed under investigation. It pledged that the Philippine Coast Guard and related agencies would conduct a fair, transparent, and expedient investigation, in the hope of preventing such an incident from happening again.
The ROC government has shown consistent determination to defend sovereignty, fishing rights, and its citizens’ rights and interests. The Republic of China has requested that the Philippine government face this issue squarely, and respond positively and in a timely fashion to its demands, the release concluded.