Philippines bowed to Taiwan and will announce a public Apology for the Shootout in Balintang Channel

Warships presence of Taiwan Republic of China would be doubled for fire drill as enemy inside the Philippine territory particularly in the Balintang Channel, near Babuyan Island if the Philippines will not ask public apology. Map from Google

Philippines says sorry to Taiwan

TAIPEI (UPDATED) - The Philippines on Wednesday apologised to Taiwan over the shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman by coastguards last week that sparked public outrage and tensions between Taipei and Manila.

Taiwan foreign minister David Lin told reporters that "the Philippines has voiced deep regret and apology for the incident" after a closed-door meeting with Antonio Basilio, the de facto Philippine ambassador to Taipei.

The Philippine government will send a special envoy to Taiwan to convey his apologies and condolences to the family of 65-year-old fisherman Hung Shih-cheng, who was shot dead on Thursday, Basilio said.

"Chairman (Amadeo) Perez will repeat his deep regret and apology from the people of the Philippines to the people of Taiwan and the family of Mr. Hung for the grief and suffering from his death," Basilio said.

Perez Jr. is chairman of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) that represents the Philippines' interest in Taiwan.

Taiwan had demanded an apology by midnight Tuesday (1600 GMT), saying that otherwise it would conduct a naval drill in waters near the Philippines. It had also threatened to freeze the sending of Philippine workers to the island.

The two sides also agreed to jointly launch an investigation into the incident, that has sparked outrage in Taiwan.

On Monday, hundreds of angry fishermen burned Philippine flags and hurled eggs at Manila's de facto embassy in Taipei.

"The Philippines has made some positive reactions towards our demand," Lin said when asked if his government would still consider sanctions against Manila, adding that the pledges from the Philippine government would need to be further evaluated.

ABS-CBN News

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Biggest Fleet: 30 Chinese Vessels arrived & occupied Mischief /Panganiban Reef eyeing; PHL to Secure Ayungin Reef in Palawan

Philippine Navy scrambled to Secure closest to Mischief; the Ayungin Reef as China suspected eyeing to invade the island to bargain the United Nation Tribunal for bilateral negotiation .  China's biggest Fleet of 30 Vessels arrived the Philippine territory Saturday which equipped and capable to invade. US moving 1 of its warship. 

Kalayaan fortified amid China threats

The military has fortified its presence in the Philippine-occupied Ayungin Reef in the Kalayaan Island Group and gone on an extensive monitoring of adjacent islands after 30 Chinese vessels from Hainan arrived inside the Philippines' 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone.

The Chinese fishing vessels, including two large transport and supply ships, were seen scattered, most of them concentrated on the Chinese-built alleged fishing sanctuary on Mischief Reef or Panganiban Reef on Saturday, a highly placed source said Sunday.

Mischief Reef was occupied by the Chinese Navy in a creeping invasion in 1994, and China has built structures there and laid buoys near the Sabina Shoal, which is 70 miles off Palawan.

The Philippine government has protested China's actions on Mischief Reef, but the Chinese government has ignored it and has even built additional structures that resemble military installations.

The source said the 30 Chinese vessels were near Mischief Reef and almost stationary.

"They may venture into wide-scale fishing around Mischief Reef, but their other objectives are now known," the source said.

He said Philippine Navy vessels remained on alert and on patrol to prevent the Chinese vessels from intruding into Philippine-occupied islands and shoals. He said the government had deployed three Navy vessels to Ayungin Reef to protect it.

With report from the Manila Standard Today

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