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Angry Taiwanese fishermen burned Filipino flags in protest on Monday after the Philippine coastguard fired on a Taiwan fishing boat killing a crew member.
Philippine President Benigno Aquino called for calm as tensions escalated between the two countries over last week’s incident in which the 65-year-old fisherman was shot dead.
Hundreds of fishermen wearing yellow headbands and chanting “Justice must be done!” and “Killer must be punished!” hurled eggs at the Philippine de facto embassy in Taipei, which was guarded by dozens of police.
Aquino said on Monday that the embassy in Taiwan was in talks with Taiwanese foreign ministry officials and had assured them an investigation was being carried out.
“I think it is in the interest of both parties to proceed in a calm basis,” Aquino told reporters. “We are proceeding in that manner.”
The Philippine coastguard admitted on Friday to firing at one of four Taiwanese fishing vessels that it said had strayed into the country’s waters.
Taiwanese authorities said more than 50 bullets hit the 15-tonne vessel, and fisherman Hung Shih-cheng was killed.
The victim’s son, who was with his father and two other sailors on the boat at the time, has insisted they did not cross into Philippine waters.
Prosecutor Liu Chia-kai described the incident as “nothing but a slaughter,” after examining the boat after it was towed back from sea.
Taiwan’s government has come under pressure from the opposition and the media to take action.
Aquino declined to comment on demands by Taiwan at the weekend for his government to apologise for the shooting and pay compensation to the victim’s family, or face a potential freeze in sending Filipino workers to the island.
There are about 87,000 Philippine domestic helpers and other workers in Taiwan, who send home hundreds of millions of dollars a year.
Taiwan at the weekend sent four coastguard and naval vessels to protect its fishermen in waters near the Philippines.
The Philippine government said on Sunday that Antonio Basilio, head of the Philippines’ defacto embassy in Taiwan, had visited the family of the fisherman and “extended condolences and apologies”.
Aquino said he did not want to comment further, preferring to let diplomats handle the dispute.
“If we comment on that (at the presidential) level, we guarantee the issue will escalate,” Aquino said.
The incident comes at a time of heightened tensions around the region over rival claims to the nearby South China Sea.
China, the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei all have competing claims to parts of the sea.
Taiwan has ruled itself since 1949, but China still considers the island part of its territory. The Philippines, like most countries, officially recognises China over Taiwan but maintains trade ties with the island.


Taiwanese fishermen burn Filipino flags in protest over shooting

Angry Taiwanese fishermen set fire to Filipino flags during a protest in Taipei on Monday against the shooting to death of a local fisherman by Philippine coastguards. Photo: AFP

Activists throw eggs at the Manila Economic and Cultural Office, the de facto Philippine embassy in Taiwan, during a protest against Philippine government in Taipei on Monday. 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 refuses to apologise as fisherman's body returns to Taiwan

Relatives of Hung Shih-cheng, a crew member on Taiwanese fishing boat Guang Ta Hsin 28, grieve over his body at Liuqiu harbour in Taiwan's southern Pingtung county yesterday. He was shot dead by the Philippine coastguard on Thursday. Photo: AFP

Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou. 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 

Killing of fisherman leads to inquiry call by Taiwan

Ma Ying-jeou. Photo: AFP

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