In response to the news that the Philippines has completed its investigation of the Guang Da Xing No. 28 shooting and acknowledged the wrongdoing of its coast guard in the incident, Premier Jiang Yi-huah stated that the ROC will lift its sanctions issued against the nation almost three months ago once its demands are met.
"We will lift the 11 sanctions against the Philippines when its government issues a formal apology and fulfills the four demands we made at that time," Jiang said at a Cabinet meeting. "It looks like they will all be met today."
The ROC government demanded the Philippine government to issue a formal apology, conduct an expeditious investigation of the matter and punish perpetrators, compensate the victims and their families and enter into fishery negotiations with Taiwan to resolve overlapping claims of economic zones after a Philippine official vessel fired on the Liuqiu-registered Taiwan fishing boat on May 9 this year, resulting in the death of Taiwanese fisherman Hong Shi-cheng. It issued a 72-hour ultimatum to press the Philippine government to take action but failed to receive favorable responses in time.
The ROC then issued two sets and a total of 11 sanctions against its southeastern Asian neighbor on May 15, including a "red" travel alert for the Philippines and suspending the processing of applications by Filipinos to work in Taiwan, driving bilateral ties to their lowest point.
Jiang said Taiwan's demands are expected to be fulfilled today so the sanctions can be lifted. "The Philippine president has already sent Manila Economic and Cultural Office Chairman Amadeo Perez to Taiwan to apologize to Hong's family on his government's behalf. Philippine officials are also negotiating with victims' families on compensation," Jiang pointed out.
Officials of both sides began preparatory meetings for a fishery agreement in June. The Philippines' National Bureau of Investigation released its investigation report Aug. 7, which acknowledged that its coast guard members had acted illegally and recommended the indictment of eight for the homicide of Hong.
"The government will stand firm in its commitment to continue safeguarding Taiwanese fishermen's rights," Jiang said.
The 11 sanctions were:
1. Suspending the processing of applications by Filipinos to work in Taiwan
2. Recalling the ROC's representative in Manila
3. Requesting the Philippine representative in Taiwan to return to his home country
4. Issuing a "red" travel alert for the Philippines.
5. Suspending high-level exchanges and interactions between the ROC and the Philippines
6. Suspending economic exchanges with the Philippines, as well as all promotional and investment-soliciting activities
7. Suspending agricultural and fishery cooperation with the Philippines
8. Suspending bilateral exchange and cooperation in scientific and technological research projects
9. Suspending negotiations on aviation rights
10. Suspending Filipinos' use of the Advance Online Registration System for the Visitors of Nationals from Five Southeast Asian Countries to Taiwan, which grants them visa exemptions
11. Authorizing joint exercises by the ROC's Ministry of National Defense and Coast Guard Administration in waters south of Taiwan
Officials with the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) have endeavored to resolve the matter over the last three months, which made cooperation between the two countries on the investigation possible, the premier noted. He thanked the MOJ, MOFA and Coast Guard Administration as well as other agencies involved in the case and sanctions for their dedication and hard work, which helped make the Philippine government take the issue seriously.
The premier thanked the ruling and opposition parties and above all the people of Taiwan for their steadfast support for the government in this affair, saying he respected the sacrifices citizens had to make in business and at home for the sake of justice and national dignity.
"From this case we can see that we should be steadfast in doing the right thing, and if we are, we will finally attain a just conclusion. I hope agencies will do the same in future cases, especially when justice and national dignity are at stake," he said.
The news that the Philippine government is expected to soon meet all of the ROC's demands so sanctions will be lifted has inspired hope for a fresh start and warm relations between the two nations.