Independent probe needed in PH-Taiwan row

An independent international investigation is in order.

This is the call of the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM) as the diplomatic crisis between the Philippines and Republic of China (Taiwan) drags on.

The crisis was brought about by the shooting last May 9 of Hung Shih-chen, a 65-year-old Taiwanese aboard a fishing vessel, by Philippine coast guards. It took the Philippine government days to respond to the demands of the Taiwanese government to issue an apology to and to remunerate Hung’s family, as well as to investigate the incident and punish the guilty.

Both governments are conducting their respective investigations of the incident. Whatever the results and findings of these investigations, questions and doubts are likely to be raised by both governments. We doubt if objectivity in the conduct and analysis of the investigations will be maintained.

For this diplomatic row to be concluded swiftly and with great objectivity, the only recourse is for both governments to call on and allow third parties, like the United Nations and its relevant agencies, to conduct an independent and impartial investigation. It is only through this initiative can we be able to discern which rules of engagement were followed or violated, what international conventions will govern or can be applied in such situations, and only then can we formulate sound recommendations as to how the case can best be resolved.

So many people have suffered from this diplomatic row—the fisherman’s family, the Filipino migrants working and living in Taiwan, and Filipinos who have processed their work documents for Taiwan. It is but crucial for both governments to resolve this row immediately and with political will.

The APMM again reiterates its call for both governments to implement concrete measures in their respective countries to ensure the safety and security of their nationals. Local authorities in both the Philippines and Taiwan need to be empowered to ensure the safety of migrants amid reports of racist attacks on Filipinos in some Taiwan provinces.

—RAMON BULTRON,

Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants,

[email protected]