Graining world recognition as an independent and sovereign nation, settling territorial disputes with Japan and Mainland China and coping with the economic and social challenges posed by Mainland China are among foremost issues on the agenda of the Republic of China (ROC Taiwan), but a row with the Philippines has been occupying the attention of the country’s leaders in recent weeks.
I was in Taipei as a part of an international media delegation from May 17 to 23 for an entirely different purpose – to gain first-hand experience of the ‘East Asian miracle,’ understand the country’s penchant for free enterprise and report on the progress of a Free Trade Agreement with New Zealand.
While discussions were held with ministers and officials on these issues, the ‘Philippines incident’ understandably became an important starting point at media briefings, especially during a luncheon hosted by the Director General of Information Services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taipei on May 22.
Unfortunate incident
Tension between Taiwan and the Philippines began on May 9, 2013 when a Philippines Government vessel shot at an unarmed Taiwanese fishing boat Guang Da Xing (No 28), resulting in the death of its crew member Hong Shi-cheng.
An initial report from the Philippines said that the Taiwanese fisherman had strayed into its waters but an ROC statement said that he was well within Taiwanese waters and that the shooting had taken place 164 nautical miles (about 300 Kms) Southeast of Taiwan, overlapping the ‘Exclusive Economic Zones’ between the two countries.
An ROC prosecutor, who inspected the boat found 52 bullet holes around the vessel and that Hong had been killed by bullets.
Taipei angry
President Ma Ying-jeou described the shooting as ‘cold-blooded murder,’ and rejected the initial apology tendered by his Filipino counterpart Benigno Aquino III as ‘unacceptable.’ A Justice Ministry delegation from Taiwan returned from the Philippines empty-handed and at press time, the relations between the two economic partners remained where it was two weeks earlier- tense and strained.
But some progress appears to have been made with the arrival of an eight-member Taiwanese investigating team in Philippines on May 27, while another team of forensic investigators from Philippines reached Taipei almost simultaneously.
Demands rejected
The Government in Manila has so far rejected the ROC demands of a formal apology, compensation to the family of Hong, bringing those responsible for his death to justice and a fisheries agreement to prevent such incidents in the future.
Although the initial reaction of foreign governments and the international media was lukewarm, visits by journalists have helped to understand the ROC stand.
US Senator Ben Cardin, Chairman of the Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs of the Senate’s Committee on Foreign Relations, urged the Philippines Government on May 21 to cooperate with Taiwan in the investigation of this incident.
US Representative Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, also issued a statement suggesting that the Philippines government should apologise to the Government and people of the ROC and provide compensation to Mr Hong’s family.
China reacts
The reaction of Mainland China was predictable but its statements fanned the fury felt in Taipei.
A Foreign Ministry statement issued to ‘Global Times,’ a Communist Party newspaper in Beijing condemned the attack as a ‘barbaric act.’
The newspaper dutifully recalled Taiwan as ‘a province-in-waiting,’ and deserving its protection. It quoted Zhuang Guotu of Xiamen University, just over the strait from Taiwan as saying, “China has reiterated over time that Taiwan is an integral part of China. Now is a good opportunity to show that China will not tolerate the shooting of our fishermen, whether they are from the mainland or Taiwan, and that our government is determined to protect the life of its people.”
