Taiwan stages military exercise amid Philippines apology row
Source: AFP |
May 17, 2013, Friday
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Print Edition
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TAIWAN held a military exercise in waters near the northern Philippines yesterday in response to the killing of a Taiwanese fisherman by Filipino coast guard personnel.
Taiwan sent a destroyer, one frigate and four coast guard vessels to waters near the Philippines to press its claims in the area, defense authorities said.
The ships went close to the spot where Filipino coast guard personnel opened fire and killed the 65-year-old.
"The move is aimed to highlight our determination to safeguard sovereignty. The coast guards have vowed to protect our fishermen wherever they are, and we'll support them," Rear Admiral Lee Tung-pao said.
The fleet did not encounter any Philippine naval or coast guard vessels.
Two Taiwanese Mirage 2000-5 fighters flew over the fleet at low altitude as the warships tested their anti-aircraft capabilities.
In Taiwan, the island's leader Ma Ying-jeou reiterated that the Philippines should take formal responsibility for the death of the fisherman, shot last week by Philippine coast guards who said his vessel had intruded into Philippine waters.
Taipei has recalled its envoy and slapped sanctions on Manila, including a ban on the hiring of new Philippine workers, a travel alert urging Taiwanese not to visit the Philippines and the suspension of high-level exchanges.
Manila said it had "gone the extra mile" to appease Taipei and expressed concern that its special envoy sent to the island had been rebuffed.
A Philippines military spokesman declined comment on the exercise and said it was not immediately clear whether the Taiwanese vessels were in international or Philippine waters.
The Philippines expressed indignation at Taiwan's treatment of its envoy Amadeo Perez, sent by President Aquino to apologize personally to the victim's family.
Perez left Taiwan yesterday after the fisherman's family had refused to meet him.
"I came to convey the president's and the Filipino people's deep regret and apology over the unfortunate and unintended loss of life," he told reporters.
Philippine presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda insisted the incident happened in Philippine waters and said the government should not have to "appease" Taiwan.
"We have gone the extra mile," Lacierda told reporters, referring to Aquino sending Perez to Taipei. "We have acted uprightly and decently as a respectable member of the international community."
Lacierda also cautioned that Taiwan's sanctions would hurt both sides. "It does not do anyone any good. Travel from their end will be affected as well. Their airlines will be affected," he said.
Taiwan has deemed it "unacceptable" that the Philippines described the fisherman's death as unintended.
Amid widespread anger in Taiwan, a group of fisherman rallied at a port near the victim's home in southern Taiwan, holding placards reading "Protest" and "Seek justice" and burning a Philippine flag.
Taipei has pressed Manila to issue a formal apology, compensate the victim's family and to apprehend the killer.
Taiwan sent a destroyer, one frigate and four coast guard vessels to waters near the Philippines to press its claims in the area, defense authorities said.
The ships went close to the spot where Filipino coast guard personnel opened fire and killed the 65-year-old.
"The move is aimed to highlight our determination to safeguard sovereignty. The coast guards have vowed to protect our fishermen wherever they are, and we'll support them," Rear Admiral Lee Tung-pao said.
The fleet did not encounter any Philippine naval or coast guard vessels.
Two Taiwanese Mirage 2000-5 fighters flew over the fleet at low altitude as the warships tested their anti-aircraft capabilities.
In Taiwan, the island's leader Ma Ying-jeou reiterated that the Philippines should take formal responsibility for the death of the fisherman, shot last week by Philippine coast guards who said his vessel had intruded into Philippine waters.
Taipei has recalled its envoy and slapped sanctions on Manila, including a ban on the hiring of new Philippine workers, a travel alert urging Taiwanese not to visit the Philippines and the suspension of high-level exchanges.
Manila said it had "gone the extra mile" to appease Taipei and expressed concern that its special envoy sent to the island had been rebuffed.
A Philippines military spokesman declined comment on the exercise and said it was not immediately clear whether the Taiwanese vessels were in international or Philippine waters.
The Philippines expressed indignation at Taiwan's treatment of its envoy Amadeo Perez, sent by President Aquino to apologize personally to the victim's family.
Perez left Taiwan yesterday after the fisherman's family had refused to meet him.
"I came to convey the president's and the Filipino people's deep regret and apology over the unfortunate and unintended loss of life," he told reporters.
Philippine presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda insisted the incident happened in Philippine waters and said the government should not have to "appease" Taiwan.
"We have gone the extra mile," Lacierda told reporters, referring to Aquino sending Perez to Taipei. "We have acted uprightly and decently as a respectable member of the international community."
Lacierda also cautioned that Taiwan's sanctions would hurt both sides. "It does not do anyone any good. Travel from their end will be affected as well. Their airlines will be affected," he said.
Taiwan has deemed it "unacceptable" that the Philippines described the fisherman's death as unintended.
Amid widespread anger in Taiwan, a group of fisherman rallied at a port near the victim's home in southern Taiwan, holding placards reading "Protest" and "Seek justice" and burning a Philippine flag.
Taipei has pressed Manila to issue a formal apology, compensate the victim's family and to apprehend the killer.
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