Taipei suspends city exchanges with Philippines

TAIPEI - Taipei mayor Hau Lung-bin announced on Saturday the suspension of inter-city exchanges with the Philippines after a Taiwan fisherman was shot dead by Philippine coast guards at sea.

The Philippines will also not be allowed to take part in Dragon Boat Festival races in Taipei on June 12, Hau said.

Hau condemned the Philippines over the shooting, and called it a violent act to fire upon an unarmed fisherman. He urged the Philippine government to apologize, release investigation reports and hold those responsible to account.

He also advised the Taiwan authorities to take a hard stance on the Philippines by halting Philippine-bound tourism, suspending labor imports from the country and increasing fishing protection patrols.

The shooting happened on Thursday morning 164 nautical miles southeast of the southernmost tip of Taiwan, according to the island's coast guard authority.

The victim was identified as Hung Shih-Cheng, 65, one of four crew members of the Taiwan fishing vessel Guang Ta Hsin 28. Hung's body was taken back to Taiwan early Saturday morning.