Protests rock Taiwan as tensions rise over shooting

Tensions have continued to grow between Taiwan and the Philippines as hundreds of Taiwan residents and fishermen protested Monday against last week's killing of a Taiwan fisherman by the Philippines coast guard in disputed waters.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino called for calm as tensions escalated over the incident in which the 65-year-old fisherman, Hung Shih-cheng, was shot dead.

Hundreds of Taiwan residents protested outside the Philippines representative office in Taipei Monday, which was guarded by dozens of police, waving banners and shouting slogans, and set fire to Philippines flags. The demonstrators demanded the Philippines apologize and compensate the victim's family.

Aquino said Monday the Philippines' representative office in Taiwan was in talks with Taiwan 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."

Aquino declined to comment on demands by Taiwan over the weekend for his government to apologize for the shooting and pay compensation to the victim's family, or face a potential freeze in sending Filipino workers to the island.

The country's government said Sunday that Antonio Basilio, head of the Philippines' representative office in Taiwan, had visited the family of the fisherman and "extended condolences and apologies." Basilio has flown back to Manila for a meeting that is expected to discuss the mounting tensions.

However, Ting Joseph Shih, a senior Taiwan official said Monday that the Philippines should apologize through its diplomatic system or presidential spokesmen, and Taiwan will only accept the word "apologize" and not "regret" from the Philippines.

Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou reiterated Monday that Taiwan will take punitive actions against the Philippines if it fails to respond by Tuesday midnight. Taiwan has sent four coastguard and naval vessels during the weekend to protect its fishermen in waters near the Philippines.

Global Times - Agencies