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Taiwan’s coastguard has rescued three Filipino fishermen who spent five days adrift when a storm blew their small boat hundreds of kilometres off course, officials said on Monday.
The three were found on Sunday 69 kilometres south of Taiwan, the coastguard said.
They were healthy even though they had to subsist on seaweed and drink rain while drifting in rough seas.
They men were slightly dehydrated but otherwise “in good shape”, said Hung Kuo-hsing, a senior coastguard official.
The three said they set sail from Santa Ana, at the northeastern tip of the Philippines’ main island of Luzon, on July 15 but were blown off course by Tropical Storm Cimaron last week.
They told the coastguard they feared another Filipino sampan might have been hit by the storm, prompting a joint search by Taiwan’s coastguard and an airborne rescue unit.
The incident follows a major diplomatic row between Taiwan and the Philippines over the fatal shooting on May 9 of a Taiwanese fisherman near a Philippine island that Taiwan also claims as part of its economic zone.
The 65-year-old was killed when Philippine coastguards opened fire on the vessel he was crewing with his son and two others.
Taipei and Manila in June reached an agreement pledging not to use force in fishing disputes.
But Manila has yet to respond to Taiwan’s demands, among them that criminal charges be filed against the coastguards involved.


Filipinos rescued by Taiwan after drifting for five days 

Three Filipino fishermen hold on their small boat on the sea near Kaohsiung city in southern Taiwan. Photo: AFP

Three Filipino fishermen talk with a Taiwanese coast guard official. Photo: AFP

Beijing urges Philippines to 'thoroughly investigate' killing

China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei during a news conference in Beijing. Photo: Reuters

Taiwan steps up naval patrols after Philippines fires on fishing vessel

A Taiwanese coastguard official waves his cap as a fleet of naval and coast guard frigates sets sail from Kaohsiung. Photo: AFP

The boat Kuang Ta Hsin No 28 was riddled with more than 50 bullet holes. Photo: Xinhua

The widow of the Taiwanese fisherman mourn as his body is returned on Saturday. Photo: Xinhua

Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou holds grief-stricken Hung Chen A-lun, widow of the fisherman shot by Philippine coastguards. Photo: AFP

Philippines admits coastguard fired at Taiwanese fishing boat

The Guang Ta Hsin 28 fishing vessel at a harbour of Liuqiu before it allegedly came under fire from a Philippine government boat. Taiwan is demanding the Philippines probe the death of a fisherman on the boat. Photo: AFP 

News

Asia

Taiwan’s coastguard has rescued three Filipino fishermen who spent five days adrift when a storm blew their small boat hundreds of kilometres off course, officials said on Monday.
