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| Taiwan Demands Apology From Philippines for Fisherman’s Killing | Taiwan Demands Apology From Philippines for Fisherman’s Killing |
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| MANILA — Taiwan and mainland China reacted with anger Friday over the killing of a Taiwanese fisherman who died after his boat was fired on by a Philippine government ship. The Philippines said the Taiwanese boat had tried to ram the Philippine vessel. | |
| President Ma Ying-jeou of Taiwan said Friday, “We demand the Philippines investigate and clarify the truth, to apologize, apprehend the killer and compensate.” | President Ma Ying-jeou of Taiwan said Friday, “We demand the Philippines investigate and clarify the truth, to apologize, apprehend the killer and compensate.” |
| The incident occurred at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in an area between the northern tip of the Philippines and the southern coast of Taiwan, according to a Philippine Coast Guard statement. A maritime control and surveillance vessel operated by the Philippine fisheries bureau, and manned by coast guard officers, encountered four Taiwanese fishing boats in an area that the Philippines claims as part of its exclusive economic zone, according to the statement. | The incident occurred at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in an area between the northern tip of the Philippines and the southern coast of Taiwan, according to a Philippine Coast Guard statement. A maritime control and surveillance vessel operated by the Philippine fisheries bureau, and manned by coast guard officers, encountered four Taiwanese fishing boats in an area that the Philippines claims as part of its exclusive economic zone, according to the statement. |
| When coast guard officers manning the surveillance vessel tried to board and inspect one of the fishing ships, another fishing boat in the fleet attempted to ram the Philippine vessel, according to the coast guard statement. The Philippine ship responded by firing warning shots, and then firing on the engine and propeller of the fishing ship in order to disable it, according to the statement. | When coast guard officers manning the surveillance vessel tried to board and inspect one of the fishing ships, another fishing boat in the fleet attempted to ram the Philippine vessel, according to the coast guard statement. The Philippine ship responded by firing warning shots, and then firing on the engine and propeller of the fishing ship in order to disable it, according to the statement. |
| A crew member of one of the Taiwanese fishing boats told the Taipei newspaper China Times that the Philippine ship fired shots that hit a fuel tank, resulting in the death of the 65-year-old fisherman. | A crew member of one of the Taiwanese fishing boats told the Taipei newspaper China Times that the Philippine ship fired shots that hit a fuel tank, resulting in the death of the 65-year-old fisherman. |
| Foreign Minister David Lin of Taiwan disputed the Philippine version of events at a news conference Friday, saying that the Philippine government vessel had fired indiscriminately at the fishing boat. “We urge the Philippine government to open a full investigation on this case and send their apology to Taiwan’s government,” Mr. Lin said. | Foreign Minister David Lin of Taiwan disputed the Philippine version of events at a news conference Friday, saying that the Philippine government vessel had fired indiscriminately at the fishing boat. “We urge the Philippine government to open a full investigation on this case and send their apology to Taiwan’s government,” Mr. Lin said. |
| According to the Taiwanese government, the incident occurred at a location that is within exclusive economic zones claimed by both countries. The timing of the incident and whether or not the Taiwanese fishing vessel had in fact tried to ram the Philippine vessel are two questions still under investigation, the Taiwanese government said. | According to the Taiwanese government, the incident occurred at a location that is within exclusive economic zones claimed by both countries. The timing of the incident and whether or not the Taiwanese fishing vessel had in fact tried to ram the Philippine vessel are two questions still under investigation, the Taiwanese government said. |
| The Taiwanese government said the incident took place 180 nautical miles, or 207 miles, southeast of the southernmost tip of Taiwan, a location that is east of several inhabited Philippines islands and much closer to them than to Taiwan. But many jurisdictions around the world, including Taiwan and the Philippines, have not negotiated clear boundaries for exclusive economic zones that overlap. | |
| A spokesman for the Philippine department of foreign affairs, Raul Hernandez, said Friday that the crew of the Philippine ship would be temporarily relieved of duties while the incident was investigated. | A spokesman for the Philippine department of foreign affairs, Raul Hernandez, said Friday that the crew of the Philippine ship would be temporarily relieved of duties while the incident was investigated. |
| But another Philippine official, Commander Armand Balilo of the coast guard, said at a news briefing in Manila on Friday that the Taiwanese fishing boats had been in Philippine waters, and that his men had been lawfully carrying out their duty to stop illegal fishing. | But another Philippine official, Commander Armand Balilo of the coast guard, said at a news briefing in Manila on Friday that the Taiwanese fishing boats had been in Philippine waters, and that his men had been lawfully carrying out their duty to stop illegal fishing. |
| “If somebody died, they deserve our sympathy but not an apology,” he said, adding later: “This is part of Philippine waters.” | “If somebody died, they deserve our sympathy but not an apology,” he said, adding later: “This is part of Philippine waters.” |
| Beijing, which is in the midst of tense border disputes with the Philippines in the South China Sea, reacted strongly to the incident Friday in support of Taiwan, which it considers a breakaway Chinese province. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Hua Chunying, called the incident “brutal” and said China had requested that the Philippines provide an immediate explanation. | Beijing, which is in the midst of tense border disputes with the Philippines in the South China Sea, reacted strongly to the incident Friday in support of Taiwan, which it considers a breakaway Chinese province. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Hua Chunying, called the incident “brutal” and said China had requested that the Philippines provide an immediate explanation. |
Keith Bradsher contributed reporting from Hong Kong. | Keith Bradsher contributed reporting from Hong Kong. |