Taiwan, Philippines sign fisheries law enforcement pact

2015/11/20

An agreement on facilitating bilateral cooperation in fisheries law enforcement was recently concluded between Taiwan and the Philippines, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nov. 19.

Under the pact signed earlier the month in Taipei by Lin Song-huann, the ROC’s representative to the Southeast Asian country, and his Filipino counterpart Antonio I. Basilio, the two sides agreed to avoid using violence or unnecessary force, create an emergency notification system and establish a prompt release mechanism.

“The agreement upholds the spirit and principles of President Ma Ying-jeou’s South China Sea Peace Initiative, which calls for shelving disputes, pursing peace and reciprocity, while promoting joint exploration and development of resources,” MOFA Minister David Lin said.

“It is expected to effectively reduce fisheries disputes in the two countries’ overlapping exclusive economic zones and protect the rights and interests of Taiwan fishermen,” he added.

Immediately following the signing, the two nations convened the first Technical Working Group meeting and reached the consensus that the law enforcing party will give a one-hour notice to the other side before taking actions, and that detained vessels and crew members will be released within three days after posting reasonable bond.

According to the minister, the pact is the result from the negotiations in the aftermath of the tragic accident involving the Taiwan fishing boat Guang Da Xing No. 28 in May 2013.

The ministry said it will continue working with the Fisheries Agency and Coast Guard Administration to hold consultations with related Philippine agencies through the cooperation mechanism in order to strengthen the bilateral relations.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=239119&ctNode=2194&mp=9)