Philippines refuses to apologize for shooting Taiwanese fishermen

China’s Taiwanese fishing boat “Broad Xing 28” was shot by the Philippine Coast Guard approximately 180 nautical miles southeast of Eluanbi, Pingtung County, Taiwan on the 9th at about 9:45, resulting in the death of Hong Shicheng and serious damage to the fishing boat. . The Philippine presidential palace argued on the 10th that the cause of the incident was that the Taiwan fishing boat had “provocative behavior” and the Philippines waited for the results to come out before deciding whether to apologize. Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Hua Chunying stated on the 10th that we have always been committed to safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of Taiwan compatriots. We will pay close attention to the follow-up development of this incident and once again urge the Philippines to thoroughly investigate this incident and handle it properly.

Professor Li Jinming of the Nanyang Institute of Xiamen University said in an interview with the Morning Post on the 10th that the shooting incident of the Taiwan fishing boat was not an "accident" as the Philippine side claimed. He believes that the Philippine side is to show its own so-called actual control of the sea area so as to achieve the purpose of occupying a favorable position in foreign arbitration.

Philippines Presidential Office: Look at the survey results to decide whether to apologize

On the 10th, the Philippine Coast Guard, the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Bureau and the Philippine Presidential Palace held successive press conferences to explain the Philippine shooting of Taiwan fishing boats.

The Philippine Coast Guard issued a statement at noon on the 10th, acknowledging that its maritime patrol boat opened fire on Taiwan's fishing boats on the 9th, but said that the incident occurred in the Philippines' waters. This was a legitimate duty and refused to apologize. According to Agence France-Presse, the Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Armand Barilo stated that Philippine shot the boat in order to prevent the fishing boat from sailing. "If someone dies, we express our sympathy, but we will not apologize." According to media reports in Taiwan, the Philippine Marine Police and 11 law enforcement officers involved in the shooting of Taiwan fishing boats have been suspended.

Abigail Wart, deputy spokesperson of the Philippine Presidential Office, said at the press conference: “Taiwan fishing boats crashed into our law enforcement vessels. This was undoubtedly a provocative move. The Philippine Coast Guard responded appropriately to the situation.” We wait for the results of the survey to come out before deciding whether to apologize."

Arthur Perez, director of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Agency of the Philippines, “sympathizes with the families of the dead fishermen” and states that the Philippines will conduct a transparent and impartial investigation. As to whether the Philippine side is willing to pay compensation to the Taiwanese fishermen for the incident, Peres said that the Philippine side does not rule out any options, but he stressed that this does not mean that the Philippine side has admitted its fault.

Taiwan authorities: demanding capture of the murderer and compensation

Ma Ying-jeou, leader of the Taiwan authorities, said on the morning of the 10th that the Taiwan side will pursue the death of a Filipino official boat killing a fisherman in Pingtung County and asked the Philippine government to formally apologize for the incident, collect the murderer, and make compensation.

Shi Ding, an official of the Taiwan authorities responsible for foreign affairs, met with Philippine representative Taiwan Hee Baili in the morning. After the appointment was over, Bai Xili said that it was a "tragic accident" and expressed regret and condolences to the families of the crew members who died. The Philippine law enforcement agencies are willing to conduct joint investigations with the law enforcement agencies in Taiwan to determine the location of the incident and the reasons for the shooting. If there is any illegal act, the Philippines will dispose of it according to law.

Regarding the "accident," Professor Li Jinming of the Nanyang Institute of Xiamen University did not agree. Li Jinming stated that since the submission of the South China Sea dispute to a foreign court, the Philippines has “tightened” its so-called rights and interests in the South China Sea. Under such circumstances, the Philippines needs to "make a difference" in this sea area, showing its so-called actual control of the sea area so as to achieve the purpose of occupying a favorable position in the arbitration of foreign courts.

Li Jinming said: "It can be said that Taiwan fishing boats have been shot and have a close relationship with the Philippine government."

Some analysts believe that the Philippines has been forced to exercise restraint in the conflicts between Huangyan Island and the mainland, and it has spread its anger to Taiwan. Li Jinming believes that this argument is not without reason.

Expert point of view: The Philippine side "Terrain said" is sophistry

At present, the attack on the "Broadbred 28" has been joined with Taiwan's "CPA" and is expected to return to the home port on the morning of the 11th. Hu Xinghua, deputy chairman of Taiwan's "Council of Agriculture", said that the "broad-educated 28" crew members could receive NT$1.5 million in pension and labor insurance pensions. In addition, the Taiwan authorities will also be responsible for repairing the "Broad Xing 28."

For the shooting pass, the parties involved have different rhetoric. Zheng Xiongxiong, Deputy Director of the Coastal Defence Department of the Executive Yuan of Taiwan stated that after initial investigation, the Philippine sea patrol officers pursued all the way along the sea, resulting in 32 bullet holes on the body of the “Broad-Shih 28” ship. Rudolph de Solerar, commander of the Philippine Coast Guard, argued the same day that when the Philippine patrol boat was preparing to inspect the “Broad Xing 28” fishing boat, the other party’s intentions collided and law enforcement officers were forced to shoot the fishing boat engine to make the fishing boat lose. power.

Regarding the attribution of the incident sea area, both parties also hold their own words. Shi Ding, an official of the Taiwan authorities concerned with foreign affairs, said that the sea area where the accident occurred was the overlapping sea area of ​​the exclusive economic zones of the two sides and no fishery operation arrangements had been reached. However, Barilo, a spokesman for the Philippine Coast Guard, insisted that the incident occurred in the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines. Perez also said that the incident occurred between the island of Ibaya in the northern tip of the Philippines and the island of Luzon, and "significantly belongs to the Philippine territorial waters."

Li Jinming believes that the Philippine side's statement is unreasonable and its behavior is clearly contrary to foreign conventions. The Philippines consistently maintains its exclusive economic zone of 200 nautical miles as stipulated in the 1994 Convention on the Law of the Sea. “But the Philippines has never said that the law of the sea stipulates that if there are overlaps within 200 nautical miles, it should be based on the principle of fairness.” Li Jinming pointed out that, in fact, the incident occurred at a distance southeast of Eluanbi, Pingtung County, Taiwan. At 180 nautical miles, "Even in accordance with the UNCLOS, this can be counted as Taiwan's exclusive economic zone. The Philippines is actually hitting someone else's exclusive economic zone."

China’s concern: successively strongly condemning barbarism

Regarding the shooting of Taiwan fishing boats by the Philippines, the Chinese Foreign Ministry condemned it for two consecutive days. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying once again emphasized on the 10th: “We express our deep condolences to the Taiwan compatriots who were killed and express our condolences to the families. I would like to stress again that the Chinese side is seriously concerned about the use of force by the Philippine side repeatedly against unarmed fishermen. The incident has caused a strong condemnation of casualties. We urge the Philippine side to conduct a thorough investigation and properly handle this incident. We will also continue to pay close attention to the follow-up progress of this incident."

Li Jinming believes that the current attitude of the Philippines is arrogant. "If Taiwanese fishermen do not have support from the mainland, things will be difficult to resolve." “The mainland has shown toughness to the Philippines at a crucial time, and it can hit the arrogance of the Philippines.” But he also pointed out: “If Ma Ying-jeou is still stubborn and obstinate, he believes that the (South China Sea issue) has nothing to do with the mainland, we can’t face it coldly. butt."

Li Jinming further analyzed that combining the Taiwan authorities’ approach to the South China Sea and East China Sea issues, such as the “East China Sea Peace Initiative,” and the signing of a fishing agreement with Japan, “It is unlikely that Ma Ying-jeou’s government and the mainland will jointly deal with the Philippines.”

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