Taiwan president eyes fishing deal with Philippines
By Ko Shu-ling, Kyodo News
Posted at 06/06/2013 6:49 PM | Updated as of 06/06/2013 7:09 PM
TAIPEI - Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou stressed Thursday in an interview with Kyodo News he wants to see relations between Taiwan and the Philippines restored quickly.
The comment came as relations with Manila have been strained for weeks over the shooting death of a Taiwanese fisherman by the Philippine Coast Guard last month.
"The Republic of China government is peace-loving and dedicated to resolving the dispute peacefully," Ma told Kyodo News. "The Taiwan-Japan fisheries agreement can serve as a fine example for reference."
The shooting incident took place May 9 when a 65-year-old Taiwanese fisherman was killed as a Philippine Coast Guard vessel fired on his boat about 170 nautical miles off the southeastern coast of Taiwan in an area where exclusive economic zones claimed by Taipei and Manila overlap.
Taiwanese officials soon issued a harshly worded ultimatum demanding a formal apology from the Philippine government, compensation for the fisherman's family, punishment of those responsible and the start of talks on a bilateral fisheries pact.
Taiwan also ejected the Philippines' top diplomatic official and imposed sanctions including the suspension of visas for Filipino workers.
Saying all actions Taiwan has taken conform to international law and the United Nations charter, Ma emphasized all evidence pointed to the fact the shooting was "intentional homicide."
As both sides have wrapped up their respective investigations and will soon release their findings, Ma said he hopes to see the dispute come to an end soon so both sides can resume bilateral ties.
In addition to urging Manila to start talks on a bilateral fisheries pact, Ma floated the idea of signing a fisheries agreement on "conservation and management" in "waters claimed by Taipei and Beijing."
"We understand why China is hesitant to start such talks because they don't want the international community to see cross-strait relationship as one of state-to-state," Ma said. "But it is not a state-to-state relationship, but a special relationship."
As in the fishing pact signed with Japan, Ma said the 18 agreements signed since he was first elected in 2008 were not inked between two countries. However, they are legally binding and help resolve long-standing issues.
The comment came as relations with Manila have been strained for weeks over the shooting death of a Taiwanese fisherman by the Philippine Coast Guard last month.
"The Republic of China government is peace-loving and dedicated to resolving the dispute peacefully," Ma told Kyodo News. "The Taiwan-Japan fisheries agreement can serve as a fine example for reference."
The shooting incident took place May 9 when a 65-year-old Taiwanese fisherman was killed as a Philippine Coast Guard vessel fired on his boat about 170 nautical miles off the southeastern coast of Taiwan in an area where exclusive economic zones claimed by Taipei and Manila overlap.
Taiwanese officials soon issued a harshly worded ultimatum demanding a formal apology from the Philippine government, compensation for the fisherman's family, punishment of those responsible and the start of talks on a bilateral fisheries pact.
Taiwan also ejected the Philippines' top diplomatic official and imposed sanctions including the suspension of visas for Filipino workers.
Saying all actions Taiwan has taken conform to international law and the United Nations charter, Ma emphasized all evidence pointed to the fact the shooting was "intentional homicide."
As both sides have wrapped up their respective investigations and will soon release their findings, Ma said he hopes to see the dispute come to an end soon so both sides can resume bilateral ties.
In addition to urging Manila to start talks on a bilateral fisheries pact, Ma floated the idea of signing a fisheries agreement on "conservation and management" in "waters claimed by Taipei and Beijing."
"We understand why China is hesitant to start such talks because they don't want the international community to see cross-strait relationship as one of state-to-state," Ma said. "But it is not a state-to-state relationship, but a special relationship."
As in the fishing pact signed with Japan, Ma said the 18 agreements signed since he was first elected in 2008 were not inked between two countries. However, they are legally binding and help resolve long-standing issues.
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