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         Philippine President Apologizes for Taiwanese Fisherman Death

   Philippine President Benigno Aquino has apologized to Taiwan for the
   shooting death of a Taiwanese fisherman by Manila`s Coast Guard, after
   Taipei angrily rejected an earlier statement of regret for the
   incident.
   A presidential spokesperson said Mr. Aquino has sent a personal
   representative to Taiwan to convey "his and the Filipino people`s deep
   regret and apology" to the family of the fisherman and to the people of
   Taiwan.
   Hours earlier, Taiwan recalled its envoy to the Philippines and
   announced a number of other punitive diplomatic measures in protest of
   what it said was an insincere response by Manila`s representative
   office in Tapei.
   The earlier statement expressed deep regret and promised to investigate
   the incident, but stopped short of an official apology. There was no
   immediate reaction by Taiwan to the latest statement.
   Taiwanese Premier Jiang Yi-huah had said his government would impose a
   "second wave" of "sanction measures" if Manila did not offer a "formal
   and sincere" response by 10:00 UTC on Wednesday.
   Mr. Jiang said Taiwan is requesting the Philippines representative
   leave Taiwan, and said a naval drill will begin a drill near disputed
   waters. He also announced a hiring freeze of Filipino workers. More
   than 85,000 Filipinos work in Taiwan.
   A Philippines Coast Guard ship opened fire on the fishing boat last
   Thursday in the South China Sea where both countries` economic
   interests overlap, killing a 65-year-old fisherman.
   The Philippines acknowledged its role in the shooting, but said it was
   acting in self-defense because the fisherman`s boat was about to ram
   the coast guard vessel.
   Taiwan and the Philippines, along with Brunei, China, Malaysia, and
   Vietnam all have competing claims to parts of the sea, which may be
   rich in oil and natural gas.
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/philippine-president-apologizes-for-taiwanese-fisherman-death/1661262.html