Premier Jiang Yi-huah announced this evening that a second set of sanctions against the Philippines will be adopted in response to the May 9 fatal attack on a Taiwanese fishing boat by an official Philippine vessel.
Manila Economic and Cultural Office Chairman Amadeo Perez, Jr. landed in Taiwan at noon today but was not fully authorized by the Philippine president. Manila also failed to give a satisfactory response to Taipei's four demands by the deadline of 6 p.m. today. This attitude demonstrates an utter lack of sincerity that the ROC government found to be unacceptable, Jiang said, hence the second set of sanctions was immediately imposed, taking effect at 6 p.m. today.
Jiang said a spokesman for the Philippine presidential office had issued a formal statement at 3:44 p.m. this afternoon saying the Philippine president will send Perez as his personal representative to Taipei to convey his and the Filipino people's deep regret and apology to the family of Mr. Hong Shi-cheng as well as to the people of Taiwan. While the ROC acknowledges this as an official apology from Manila, its characterization of Mr. Hong's death as an "unfortunate and unintended loss of life" is completely unacceptable, said the premier.
"The Guang Da Xing No. 28 fishing boat was riddled with bullet holes. We cannot accept that this was an inadvertent, unintentional act," the premier added.
"While the Philippine government has apologized for the death of Hong Shi-cheng, it has once again claimed his killing was unintentional. Moreover, the Philippine government's handling of this entire affair has been sloppy, and it has persistently evaded the important issues and dwelled on the trivial," he said.
"The Philippines still has failed to offer a formal and comprehensive response to our official demands. It has been vacillating and insincere," the premier stated.
"Its law enforcement officers killed a Taiwanese fisherman inside one of Taiwan's maritime exclusive economic zones, in violation of international law, the Law of the Sea and humanitarian principles. Ever since, its government has lacked the sincerity to resolve this incident. Even when the ROC resorted to sanctions, Philippine officials continued to go through the motions and make vague remarks. Furthermore, during its negotiations with us, it engaged in deliberate delays.
"This is unacceptable," Jiang said. "Hence, our government will continue to express strong condemnation and protest of the Philippine government."
Providing an update on the progress of the first set of sanctions effective earlier today, Jiang said that the ROC government has already frozen Filipino laborers' applications to work in Taiwan; the ROC representative in the Philippines is due to arrive in Taiwan tonight; and the Philippine representative in Taiwan is scheduled to fly back to the Philippines tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the National Security Council (NSC) has established a supervisory task force to oversee the execution of countermeasures. Each agency will send a high-ranking member to participate in this group.
The Executive Yuan Council and the NSC have maintained close contact throughout this affair. They will continue to apply direct pressure to the Philippine government until it responds appropriately to Taiwan's demands.
Jiang reiterated that the government will vigorously defend the ROC's sovereignty. It has authorized the ROC Ministry of National Defense and Coast Guard Administration to step up patrolling of Taiwan's exclusive economic zone to protect Taiwanese fishermen. In addition to providing consolation funds to Mr. Hong's family, the ROC government will continue to press Manila for appropriate restitution.
"We will absolutely not allow any country to compromise our national dignity or the safety of our citizens," Jiang stressed.
The premier again urged the Taiwanese public to remain united in supporting the government's protest against Manila but to keep cool heads in doing so. "As a testament to Taiwan's respect for democracy and rule of law, citizens should regard the Filipino people and Filipino workers in Taiwan in a civil and rational manner," he said.
Jiang also called on the world community to pay greater attention to this incident and to support Taiwan in its defense of an innocent fisherman. The ROC government will strengthen its international communications, directing ROC embassies and representative offices around the world to raise awareness and underscore Taiwan's desire for peace and its rational and pragmatic approach to resolving conflict.