Phl moves to ease tension with Taiwan

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine government is defusing tensions with Taiwan through proper channels and not through media, Malacañang said yesterday.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Antonio Basilio, managing director and resident representative of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei, would deliver the country’s response to all issues and demands being raised by Taiwan with regard to the killing of a Taiwanese fisherman by Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel last week.

Without directly addressing the issue of a news blackout or gag order, Lacierda said in a briefing that “we are going to announce our response through the proper channels and not through media” when asked why the PCG press conference set yesterday morning was cancelled.

“You will be informed as soon as the decision has been transmitted through proper channels,” Lacierda said.

He said that President Aquino had stated that it was “prudent for us not to discuss this matter in a manner that would escalate the situation.”

“What the President mentioned is that we will proceed and deal with this matter on a calm basis,” Lacierda said, adding the issue was being given much importance and attention despite the elections.

“We are not neglecting our duties. The national election is very important for us. It will determine our governance for the next three years and, certainly, this is very important for us. This is not, however, to deny the fact that there is an incident that happened last May 8 and that we recognize that particular incident and we are handling that,” he said.

“There will be a response and it will be handed through the proper channels and not through media,” Lacierda reiterated when asked about Taiwan’s threat to freeze the hiring of Filipino workers, among other sanctions, if the Philippines would not apologize and compensate the family of the dead Taiwanese fisherman.

Lacierda said the investigation was underway and the results would be announced at the proper time.

“The President has already instructed the investigation to take place,” he said. “Like what we have already stated, we value the people-to-people exchange with Taiwan. We have a long history of exchanges – cultural and historical exchange – with Taiwan. A number of us also studied in Chinese schools handled by... the Taiwan educational system in learning Mandarin. We certainly would like to avoid a situation that will exacerbate our relationship with Taiwan,” Lacierda said, adding that at the proper time, it should not be a problem to produce and show the video footage taken by the PCG.

He also denied deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte took the matter lightly and even laughed while talking about the incident.

“The Taiwan incident is a very serious matter. I am very confident that (Undersecretary) Valte was not laughing when she responded to a question on the incident involving the death of the Taiwanese,” he said.

Naval drill

Taiwan, for its part, stepped up pressure on Manila yesterday, saying it would conduct a naval drill in waters near the Philippines if Manila does not officially apologize by midnight Tuesday for the killing of a 65-year-old Taiwanese fisherman.

This is apart from its threat that the Philippines may face a potential freeze in sending workers to the island.

The defense ministry said the military was prepared to conduct an exercise in the waters where Hung Shih-cheng of the 15-ton Guang Ta Hsin 28 was shot Thursday.

Whether the drill would be conducted or not would depend on the reaction of the Philippine government, the defense ministry said.

The Philippine Navy (PN) said it will continuously monitor the country’s territorial waters in Batanes amid Taiwan’s declaration.

“We will conduct continuous monitoring in the area while waiting for the official result of the PCG investigation. The Navy is also not in a position to speak on the issue but the Department of Foreign Affairs and Malacañang, as the matter involves international relations,” Navy spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Gregory Gerald Fabic said.

From the naval station in the northernmost island province, the Navy will be keeping an eye on the Taiwanese naval activities.

The defense ministry declined to provide details but the state Central News Agency said the exercise would be held Thursday and would involve a Kidd-class destroyer, a Perry-class frigate and three coast guard frigates.

A number of fighter jets would also be involved in the drill which would for the first time target the Philippines as the enemy, it said.

The killing of the Taiwanese fisherman has sparked public outrage in Taiwan, where hundreds of angry fishermen burned Philippine flags and hurled eggs at Manila’s de facto embassy in Taipei Monday.

Over the weekend, Taiwan sent four coast guard and naval vessels to protect its fishermen in waters near the Philippines.

The PCG has admitted firing at one of four Taiwanese fishing vessels it said had strayed into its waters, allegations denied by the victim’s son who was with his father and two other sailors on the boat at the time.

Taiwan prosecutor Liu Chia-kai described the incident as “nothing but a slaughter,” after examining the boat which he said was hit by more than 50 bullets.

Taiwan has also asked the Philippines to bring to justice the coast guard personnel responsible for the incident and start negotiating a fisheries agreement.

The incident comes at a time of heightened tensions around the region over rival claims to the nearby West Philippine Sea. – With Jose Katigbak (STAR Washington Bureau), Jaime Laude