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          Taiwan, Philippines Pursue Joint Shooting Probe to Mend Ties

   by Ralph Jennings

   The Philippines' rejection of charges that its coast guard
   intentionally shot a Taiwanese fisherman to death in overlapping waters
   has enraged Taiwan and severely strained ties between two normally
   friendly Pacific Rim democracies. But both sides are hinting this week
   at a joint investigation that could repair relations.
   The shooting of a 65-year-old fisherman aboard his boat on May 9 has
   created a public furor in his homeland, Taiwan, prompting calls for a
   full-blown apology and compensation. Taiwan said the act was
   intentional, but the Philippines has said much less.
   Manila's response comes as a setback for Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou
   as he tries to raise approval ratings of around 20 percent.
   But Taipei said this week it has made progress on its call for a joint
   investigation into the Luzon Strait shooting. On Tuesday, the two sides
   held working-level meetings and decided to offer mutual legal aid.
   Taiwan's foreign ministry spokeswoman Anna Kao said the development
   shows that both sides are working in the same spirit.
   Kao said that, basically, in doing a joint investigation in spirit, the
   Philippines will respect each side's legal rights to the area of ocean.
   She said that later both sides will make joint checks, make comparisons
   and hold discussions, so basically the spirit on both sides is the
   same.
   Manila had declined to work together after Taiwan took 11
   countermeasures against it last week, including a freeze on Philippine
   migrant labor. About 88,000 Filipinos in Taiwan would be forced to
   leave once current contracts end. The flap has enraged people on both
   sides, making migrants feel physically threatened. It also tears at
   part of an American-led Asia-Pacific alliance that also includes Japan
   and South Korea.
   Some political strategists said the Philippines may have fallen short
   of Taiwan's demands to avoid statements that could be read as conceding
   the disputed waters where the man was shot. Ocean economic zones
   claimed by each side overlap in the 250-kilometer-wide Luzon Strait.
   A joint investigation into the incident that Taiwan said left 59 bullet
   holes in the fishing boat could be a start toward eventual
   conciliation. Alex Chiang, an associate professor of international
   politics at National Cheng Chi University in Taipei, said the worst is
   already over.
   "I don't think the Filipino president will back up a lot, but I think
   he will do it gradually," said Chiang. "First, I think both sides will
   have to agree on the investigation outcome. They both have to agree on
   what has happened. That's first and foremost. Once they agree about the
   incident, I think it will be easy for both sides to settle the issue."
   Taiwan's foreign ministry said it ultimately plans to send a team to
   the Philippines to question witnesses and examine evidence. Manila has
   said it would return the visit to meet witnesses and look at the
   fishing boat shot by its coast guard.
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   ing-probe-to-mend-ties/1666016.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/taiwan-philippines-pursue-joint-shooting-probe-to-mend-ties/1666016.html