Taiwan issues 72-hour ultimatum over shooting incident

Taipei, May 11 (CNA) President Ma Ying-jeou demanded Saturday the Philippines respond to Taiwan's requests over the shooting death of a Taiwanese fisherman within 72 hours or face the consequences of freezing the applications of Filipino laborers seeking to work in Taiwan.

Presidential Office spokeswoman Garfie Li said that if Manila can not give a positive response within 72 hours, the applications of Filipino laborers will be suspended. Taiwan will also recall its representative to the Philippines and request that Philippine representative to Taiwan return to Manila.

President Ma convened a high-ranking meeting Saturday night, and demanded four things from the Philippines: issue a formal apology, compensate the losses, get to the bottom of the incident and punish the perpetrators of the killing, and kick off fishery agreement talks between the two countries as soon as possible.

The Taiwanese boat, Kuang Ta Hsing No. 28, was strafed by a joint patrol of the Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Thursday while operating in the overlapping economic zones of the two countries. A 65-year-old Taiwanese fisherman was shot dead in the incident.