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Taipei-Manila Row: US
again urges working together to settle tensions
By William Lowther / Staff reporter in WASHINGTON
For the fourth time this week, the US Department of State on Thursday urged
Taiwan and the Philippines to work together and settle the growing tensions over
the shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman by Philippine Coast Guard personnel.
US Department of State spokesperson Jennifer Psaki also promised to take a close
look at reports that Manila was not cooperating with Taiwan.
There is concern in Washington that despite the US¡¦ best diplomatic efforts in
the background, the situation could still get out of hand.
¡§We continue to urge both parties to ensure maritime safety and refrain from
actions that could further escalate tensions,¡¨ Psaki said.
However, she stressed that it was up to the people of the Philippines and Taiwan
to ¡§determine¡¨ the steps moving forward.
Psaki was asked to comment on reports that when Taiwanese investigators arrived
in Manila there were no government officials there to receive them and no
meetings were scheduled, while the Philippine Secretary of Justice rejected the
idea of a joint investigation.
¡§We continue to welcome the Philippine government¡¦s pledge to conduct a thorough
investigation in this case,¡¨ Psaki added. ¡§We are hopeful they will move forward
on that and I have not seen those reports you reference. I¡¦ll have to take a
closer look at those.¡¨
Asked if the US was informed in advance of the Taiwanese decision to send
warships and patrol boats into the area of the incident to protect its fishing
boats, Psaki said the US was aware of what was happening.
¡§We are aware that the Taiwanese navy and Taiwanese coast guard conducted an
exercise south of Taiwan today,¡¨ she said. ¡§Questions about the conduct of that
exercise would, of course, be appropriately directed to Taiwan¡¦s authorities.¡¨
Later, while addressing the US Department of State¡¦s daily press briefing, she
repeated the US call for caution.
¡§We urge both Taiwan and the Philippines to exercise restraint and address the
events of last week, and take steps to minimize the likelihood of future
confrontations,¡¨ Psaki said.
Pressed to comment on the desirability of a joint Taiwan-Philippine
investigation into the shooting of the fisherman, she refused.
She repeated that the Philippine government had pledged to conduct a ¡§thorough
and expeditious¡¨ investigation and the US encouraged them to do so.
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