TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Taiwan and the Philippines restored relations this week after working for three months to ease anger over a fishing boat shooting incident that gutted normally friendly ties between two Pacific Rim allies.
Taiwan has lift the sanctions against the Philippines following a Philippine apology over the killing of a Taiwanese fisherman three months ago in disputed waters between the Philippines and Taiwan, Malacañang on Friday expressed confidence that relations between the two countries would normalize soon.
“We did get word that they are lifting sanctions, the ones that they levied because of the incident. But then, you know, hopefully this recent development will contribute to the resolution of the issue and then will return relations to normal,” Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said.
“We have heard from some OFWs that they have been told by their co-workers waiting in Manila that they have been advised to prepare to be deployed,” MECO permanent representative Antonio Basilio said.
Taiwanese Foreign Minister David Lin announced the lifting of all sanctions Thursday night following the visit by MECO officials during which chair Amadeo Perez offered a verbal apology to Hung’s family.
This came a day after the National Bureau of Investigation announced its recommendation to file homicide charges against eight members of the Philippine Coast Guard for the death of Hung, who was killed when the Coast Guard men fired on a Taiwanese fishing boat allegedly poaching in Philippine waters last May 9. Taiwanese prosecutors also filed homicide charges in Taiwan against the eight coast guards.
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