Taiwan adds sanctions against Philippines

TAIPEI - Taiwan has implemented a new round of sanctions against the Philippines to rebuff the Philippines' response to the killing of a Taiwan fisherman, chief of the island's executive body Jiang Yi-Huah announced Wednesday.

The fresh sanctions, with immediate effect, include issuing a red alert for tourism to discourage Taiwan people 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, and exchanges and cooperation in technology and research will also be suspended, according to the island's executive body.

The island has also dispatched military vessels to carry out a joint marine drill with its coast guard patrol vessels in waters off southern Taiwan.

Earlier on Wednesday, Taiwan adopted a number of other sanctions, including freezing the applications of Filipino laborers who wish to work on the island, after a three-day deadline set by Taiwan expired. It added that more countermeasures would be imposed if the Philippines failed to meet the island's demands by 6 pm Wednesday.

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.

Following the incident, Taiwan gave the Philippines 72 hours to respond to the island's demands, which include 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.