Taiwan dissatisfied with Philippine response

BEIJING - Taiwan's leader Ma Ying-jeou is strongly dissatisfied with the Philippine response to the fatal maritime shooting of a Taiwan fisherman by Philippine Coast Guard officers, an island spokesman said on Wednesday.

The island has decided to immediately adopt countermeasures, including freezing the applications of Filipino laborers who wish to work on the island, spokeswoman Li Jiafei said.

Following the incident, Taiwan demanded a formal apology, an investigation into the fisherman's death, punishment for those found responsible and compensation for the death and the damage done to the fishing boat.

The Philippine response lacks authorization, sincerity and firmness, Li said, adding that Taiwan cannot accept such a perfunctory and negligent response.

Taiwan will adopt more countermeasures if the Philippines fails to meet the island's demands by 6 pm Wednesday, the spokesman said.

The measures include issuing a red alert for tourism to discourage Taiwan from traveling to the Philippines, as well as stopping high-level exchanges between the two sides. Economic exchanges and promotion, cooperation in agriculture and fishing, as well as exchanges and cooperation in technology and research, will also be stopped, according to Taiwan's executive office.

The shooting happened at sea 164 nautical miles southeast of Taiwan on May 9, when Philippine Coast Guard officers shot and killed 65-year-old Taiwan fisherman Hung Shih-Cheng, according to Taiwan's coast guard authority.

Taiwan previously called for immediate compensation for the incident.

Manila has expressed deep regret and apology for the incident and given a "positive response" to most of Taiwan's demands, but needs to give further confirmation regarding how the demands will be met, particularly those concerning compensation and the authorization of Philippine representatives to Taiwan, said David Lin, the island's chief official in charge of foreign exchanges.

Lin made the remarks at a press conference following talks he held with Antonio Basilio, representative of the Philippines in Taipei.

According to Basilio, Amadeo R. Perez Jr., chairman of the representative office, was scheduled to arrive in Taiwan on Wednesday to give a message of regret and apology to the fisherman's family and the people of Taiwan.

At the conference, Basilio said the Philippines understands the Taiwan people's grief and sadness for the fisherman's death.

Basilio said the Philippines will provide financial assistance to Hung's family.

Both Lin and Basilio said there will be a joint investigation into the shooting. Lin said Taiwan investigators will travel to the Philippines on Thursday.