Taipei — The Taiwan (Republic of China) government announced Friday that it has lifted its sanctions against the Philippines effective immediately, following the constructive response of the Philippine government to the shooting incident involving Taiwan fishing boat Guang Da Xing No. 28. Cooperative and friendly relations between the two countries are being restored, Minister of Foreign Affairs David Y.L. Lin said at a news conference in Taipei City. The sanctions included a freeze on Filipino labor applications, a red travel alert discouraging ROC citizens from traveling to the Philippines for tourism or business, and suspension of bilateral exchanges and visa exemptions. The announcement came after Amadeo R. Perez Jr., chairman of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office, and Antonio I. Basilio, Philippine representative to Taiwan, met with Lin to explain their government's official written response to the incident. Perez had traveled earlier in the day to the island of Xiaoliuqiu, off the southwest coast of Taiwan, to deliver a formal apology on behalf of Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III and the people of the Philippines to the family of fisherman Hong Shi-cheng. Hong was killed May 9 when the Guang Da Xing No. 28 was fired on by a Philippine government patrol vessel while operating in waters within the overlapping exclusive economic zones of the two countries. The ROC imposed the sanctions following its May 11 demands that the Philippine government make a formal apology, provide compensation, promptly investigate the incident and punish those responsible, and initiate fisheries cooperation talks at the earliest possible time. The Philippine government has now responded positively to the four demands, Lin said, noting that Perez was authorized by President Aquino to deliver the apology. An agreement on compensation has also been reached between attorneys for the victim's family and for MECO, he added. – SG
