Ten U.S. Congressmen, U.S. Senator, and EU support Taiwan against the Philippines
The snowball is starting to roll downhill. Everyone gave the Philippines a grace period of ten days to demonstrate responsibility for the brutal killing of an unarmed Taiwanese fisherman by eleven heavily armed Filipino coast guard thugs. The grace period is up.
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Taiwan receives more overseas support in boat case | Taiwan Today
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Taiwan receives more overseas support in boat case
Publication Date：05/23/2013
Source： Taiwan Today
An ROC investigator photographs bullet holes on Taiwan fishing boat Guang Da Xing No. 28 during an inspection May 11 in Pingtung County. (CNA)
The killing of a Taiwan fisherman during an attack on his boat by a Philippine government vessel is beginning to receive greater attention abroad, according to the ROC Ministry of Foreign Affairs May 22.
“We have received support from U.S. and EU lawmakers, with a series of reports on the case carried by the mainstream international media,” a MOFA official said.
The official made the remarks following the release of additional evidence exposing the truth behind the May 9 fatal shooting of Hong Shi-cheng during an attack by a Philippine government vessel on ROC-registered Guang Da Xing No. 28 in overlapping exclusive economic zones between the two countries.
U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, chairman of the Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs of the U.S. Senate’s Committee on Foreign Relations, issued a statement May 21 conveying his condolences to Hong’s family and urging the Philippines to cooperate with Taiwan in investigating the incident.
Randy Schriver, former deputy U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, also made similar remarks in his commentary published May 20 by Washington, D.C.-based Nelson Report.
“At this juncture, there is an urgent need for meaningful bilateral discussions between the governments of the Philippines and the ROC,” Schriver said.
“I have every reason to believe President Ma [Ying-jeou] and his team are capable in engaging in the same kind of diplomacy which brought them success with the [Shinzo] Abe government in Tokyo.”
U.S. Rep. Ed Royce, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, said in a May 20 statement that the Philippine government should apologize to the ROC government and its people, as well as provide compensation to victim’s family. U.S. Rep. Judy Chu also condemned the violent act by the Philippines.
These statements are in addition to those of U.S. Reps. Kerry Bentivolio and Scott DesJarlais May 17; Robert Brady May 16; and Steve Chabot, Eni Faleomavaega and Matt Salmon May 15.
“I urge the Philippine government to fully apologize, provide appropriate compensation for the crewman’s family, and conduct a thorough investigation of this matter in order to ensure accountability,” said Salmon, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere.
In the EU, Georges Dallemagne, co-chair of the Taiwan Friendship Group in the Belgian Chamber of Representatives, issued a statement May 21 expressing condolences to Hong’s family and his hope for fishery negotiations between Taipei and Manila to begin as soon as possible so as to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
Charles Tannock, member of the European Parliament and chairman of the EP-Taiwan Friendship Group, issued a statement the same day on behalf of the group strongly condemning the attack and fatal shooting.
“Nevertheless, once the facts are clearly established, full compensation must be paid to the family of Mr. Hong and the owners of the vessel, and all of those responsible for giving the orders to open fire on the fishing vessel be brought to criminal justice,” Tannock said.
Polish MEP Michal Kaminski said it seems clear that the vessel belonging to the government of the Philippines was violating international law.
“Shooting unarmed civilians can never be justified as an act of self-defense as it was claimed by the Philippine authorities,” Kaminski said.
The international media also chimed in on the unfortunate incident, with Agence France-Presse reporting May 21 that Taiwan released the satellite record of the route of the fishing boat, rebutting the Philippine government’s claim of its trespass into territorial waters.
Bloomberg ran a report the same day on the incident titled “Taiwanese Crew Hid to Escape Hail of Philippine Bullets” based on a May 19 interview with Hong’s family and surviving members of the crew.
From May 21 to 22, the MOFA said, more than 30 reports were run by news outlets such as AFP, El Sol de Mexico, European Business Review, Telam, Philippine Daily Inquirer, South China Morning Post, The Manila Times, The Straits Times, and Voice of America. (RC-JSM)"
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Taiwan's list of friends in the U.S. Congress has grown to ten:
U.S. Representative Ed Royce (R-California), chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs
"US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific Chairman Steve Chabot (R-Ohio) and ranking member Eni Faleomaveaga (D-American Samoa) issued a joint statement on Wednesday strongly indicating their support for Taiwan in the shooting incident."
U.S. House Representative Matt Salmon (R-Arizona), chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere
U.S. Representative Scott DesJarlais (R-Tennessee)
U.S. Representative Kerry Bentivolio (R-Michigan)
U.S. House Representative Robert Brady (D-Pennsylvania)
U.S. House Representative Ron DeSantis (R-Florida)
U.S. House Representative Howard Coble (R-North Carolina)
U.S. House Representative Judy Chu (D-California)
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Taiwan's list of friends in the U.S. Senate is starting to grow:
"U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, chairman of the Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs of the U.S. Senate’s Committee on Foreign Relations, issued a statement May 21 conveying his condolences to Hong’s family and urging the Philippines to cooperate with Taiwan in investigating the incident."
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Taiwan's list of friends in the European Union is starting to grow:
In the EU, Georges Dallemagne, co-chair of the Taiwan Friendship Group in the Belgian Chamber of Representatives
"Charles Tannock, member of the European Parliament and chairman of the EP-Taiwan Friendship Group, issued a statement the same day on behalf of the group strongly condemning the attack and fatal shooting."
"Polish MEP Michal Kaminski said it seems clear that the vessel belonging to the government of the Philippines was violating international law.
'Shooting unarmed civilians can never be justified as an act of self-defense as it was claimed by the Philippine authorities,' Kaminski said."
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Taiwan's list of friends among U.S. think tanks is starting to grow:
"Randy Schriver, former deputy U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, also made similar remarks in his commentary published May 20 by Washington, D.C.-based Nelson Report."
don't bother because non of the chinese forumers here can count as intelligent let alone make any intelligent conversation, If your so sick of it turn off your computer and do something else with your time.
