Taiwan Gives Philippines Ultimatum After Fatal Shooting Of Fisherman

[News_Editor]

A Taiwan naval Lafayette-class frigate, left, and a Taiwan coast guard frigate sail out of the port of Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan, in this handout photo from the Taiwan Coast Guard on May 12, 2013. Taiwan Coast Guard and navy dispatched three vessels and one Lafayette-class frigate with a S70-c helicopter aboard to patrol the overlapping waters of Taiwan and the Philippines after a fisherman was shot dead by a Filipino vessel in disputed waters in the South China Sea last week, according to local media. (Photo: Taiwan Coast Guard/Handout via Reuters)

TAIPEI,”Taiwan has issued an ultimatum to the Philippines to make an official apology to the family of a Taiwanese fisherman who died in a fatal shooting by the Philippine Coast Guard in the South China Sea or pay a price.

The Philippines and Taiwan, as well as China, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam, are embroiled in diplomatic rows over territory in the South China Sea, potentially rich in oil and gas and criss-crossed by crucial shipping lanes. The disputes have sometimes escalated to confrontation between vessels.

A Philippines fisheries official said one of its vessels, acting under the threat of being rammed, opened fire last Thursday on a Taiwanese fishing boat about 170 nautical miles southeast of Taiwan, killing one person on board.

Philippines presidential deputy spokesperson Abigail Valte said on Sunday the head of the de facto Philippine embassy in Taiwan had apologized and offered his condolences to the family.

Asked if the apology was an acknowledgement that the Philippines authorities made a mistake, Valte said it was more of an “expression of heartfelt sorrow at the unfortunate incident,” stressing that investigations are ongoing and it would be better to wait for the results of the probe.

But Taiwan is not satisfied with the Philippines actions.

“If the Philippines presidential office continues to respond to our request in such an attitude… They will have to pay a price,†according to a statement from Taiwan’s presidential office.

Taiwan will freeze all new applications of Filipinos to work on the island, local media reported. There are currently 80,000 Filipinos working in Taiwan.

Source: Irrawaddy.org

[Sing_Sling]

Taiwan flexes its muscle . . . good to see

[maidu]

Interesting to see Taiwan taking a strong stance in that region. It's got territorial issues with the Japanese, and it also seems to be flexing its muscles in the S.China Sea. We could take bets to see where the next war will get sparked: S.China Sea, or N.Korea, or India/Pakistan border or Israel/Iran, or.....?

[Thaiaddict01]

what are the chances they gonna go to war?