The Philippines yesterday said that it was studying a draft fisheries agreement with Taiwan as tensions in rich border fishing grounds re-emerged two years after Philippines Coast Guard personnel killed a Taiwanese fisherman.
The proposed deal would not define borders, but is to set protocols on the arrest and detention of fishermen, Philippine Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose told a news conference.
“The mechanism will provide guidelines for incidents at sea,” Jose said. “It will not be an agreement on maritime boundary delimitations.”
The draft agreement was prepared by the two nation’s trade representatives.
Several new fisheries-related scrapes have been reported between Taiwan and the Philippines in recent months.
A Philippines Coast Guard ship attempted to arrest a Taiwanese fishing vessel off the Batan island group last month, but Coast Guard Administration vessels intervened, resulting in a four-hour standoff.
Manila broadcaster ABS-CBN yesterday aired footage of a June 6 standoff between coast guard ships from the two nation’s, which ended with the Taiwanese vessel turning back after a tense exchange of radio messages.
These incidents recalled the May 2013 shooting of 65-year-old fisherman Hung Shih-cheng (洪石成) in the same area. The Philippines indicted eight coast guard members over Hung ‘s death and their case is now before a Manila court.
Jose said there was a “huge overlapping” of the exclusive economic zones in the Philippines’ northern waters and the waters off Taiwan’s south coast.
Philippine President Benigno Aquino III’s office is reviewing the proposed pact and is to decide within the year whether to sign it, Jose said.
“With this agreement, we hope to talk about [sea incidents] in an easier manner,” he said.
LOW RISK: Most nations do not extradite people accused of political crimes, and the UN says extradition can only happen if the act is a crime in both countries, an official said China yesterday issued wanted notices for two Taiwanese influencers, accusing them of committing “separatist acts” by criticizing Beijing, amid broadening concerns over China’s state-directed transnational repression. The Quanzhou Public Security Bureau in a notice posted online said police are offering a reward of up to 25,000 yuan (US$3,523) for information that could contribute to the investigation or apprehension of pro-Taiwanese independence YouTuber Wen Tzu-yu (溫子渝),who is known as Pa Chiung (八炯) online, and rapper Chen Po-yuan (陳柏源). Wen and Chen are suspected of spreading content that supported secession from China, slandered Chinese policies that benefit Taiwanese and discrimination against Chinese spouses of
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PROMOTION: Travelers who want a free stopover must book their flights with designated travel agents, such as Lion Travel, Holiday Tours, Cola Tour and Life Tours Air Canada yesterday said it is offering Taiwanese travelers who are headed to North America free stopovers if they transit though airports in Japan and South Korea. The promotion was launched in response to a potential rise in demand for flights to North America in June and July next year, when the US, Canada and Mexico are scheduled to jointly host the FIFA World Cup, Air Canada said. Air Canada offers services to 13 of the 16 host cities of the tournament’s soccer games, including Toronto and Vancouver; Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey in Mexico; Atlanta, Georgia; Boston; Dallas; Houston;
The US approved the possible sale to Taiwan of fighter jet spare and repair parts for US$330 million, the Pentagon said late yesterday, marking the first such potential transaction since US President Donald Trump took office in January. "The proposed sale will improve the recipient's capability to meet current and future threats by maintaining the operational readiness of the recipient's fleet of F-16, C-130," and other aircraft, the Pentagon said in a statement. Trump previously said that Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) has told him he would not invade Taiwan while the Republican leader is in office. The announcement of the possible arms
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