Exclusive
By Raïssa Robles
Even before the Taiwan government had received the official letter containing the Philippine apology for the death of the Taiwanese fisherman, Taipei already knew its contents, highly knowledgeable sources said.
In fact, the Taiwan government already knew the contents of three previous drafts of the letter.
MECO chair & CEO Amadeo Perez, Jr.
This was because top officials of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) — our “ambassadors” to Taiwan (we’re not allowed to have embassies and ambassadors because of our One China Policy) — were handing to the Taiwan foreign ministry all four drafts of what the official letter was to contain.
On top of that, Manila’s quasi-envoys to Taiwan – MECO chairman and CEO Amadeo Perez Junior and MECO Taiwan managing director and resident representative Antonio Basilio – were taking Taiwan’s side and trying to convince the Philippine government to support Taiwan’s four demands following the fisherman’s death. These demands were contained in Version 1 of the letter of apology, sources also indicated.
Apparently, after the fisherman’s shooting, the Philippine MECO officials took it upon themselves to go into a huddle with Taiwan officials and formulate the letter of apology the Philippine government was supposed to submit. It isn’t clear if the MECO officials kept Manila informed of what they were doing.
My sources tell me that the MECO officials, who have since been recalled to Manila, are probably going to get fired.
MECO is a plum post. A source connected to a former MECO top official told me that for MECO envoys “there is no accounting of funds”. The officials – who are often not professional diplomats – are only accountable to the Philippine president since MECO is not under the Department of Foreign Affairs. (The current MECO officials are under the Office of the Executive Secretary.) At present, “It is a political reward. It pays very well, if you’re talking of a salary, a car and driver, and a house in a really nice exclusive place in Taipei,” my source said.
The source also said MECO generates revenues in the form of visa fees and it is completely discretionary on the part of the MECO heads to decide how much of these visa fees to turn over to the Philippine government.
Being the head of MECO, “you can do a lot of favors for people, especially those who want to make business back and forth,” the source added.
I stumbled on this latest twist in the Taiwan dispute after @Martial Bonifacio, a commenter on Cyber Plaza Miranda – the growing number of cyber-citizens who congregate on my site – placed a link in one of his comments.
The link led to a downloadable PDF. It contained the four versions of the Philippine apology, all dated May 14, all on MECO letterhead. Three of them were signed by MECO Taipei resident representative Antonio Basilio and printed with the MECO letterhead.
Knowing what was in all four versions gave Taiwan a huge diplomatic and negotiating edge. Also, apparently, it contributed to the Taipei government’s fury. It thought it was going to receive the servile and docile draft no. 3, and instead got draft no. 4 — the version which Manila (not our ambassadors) wrote. The fourth letter version deviated markedly from Taiwan’s initial four demands, which were reflected in Version 1 which was unsigned and was not on MECO letterhead.
It led to Taipei branding the Philippine government “dishonest” and “capricious” and imposing eight sanctions against Manila.
I tried phoning Mr. Basilio yesterday for the South China Morning Post story I was working on. He was in the MECO office in Makati but I was told he was “tied up on the phone” or was “busy.” So I left the following questions for him to answer:
1. There were four different versions of the letter which reached MOFA (Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs) on the same day. Which version was cleared by Malacañang?
2. Why were there four versions?
3. Were the other versions only drafts?
Later in the day (May 21) someone in the MECO office e-mailed me Mr Basilio’s replies.
Mr Basilio’s last sentence stated:
“Releasing these earlier versions is a breach of protocol and courtesy.”
He apparently meant the Taipei foreign ministry should not have made all the drafts public.
MECO representative in Taiwan Antonio Basilio holds a press briefing with Taiwan Foreign Minister David Lin on May 15. Lin’s office later released Basilio’s signed drafts to the public.
He confirmed that the four versions were really drafts. Here’s his explanation why the Taiwan foreign ministry under David Lin had all four versions:
“It does not matter how many versions came out of the meeting on May 14. They are drafts that reflect a sincere effort by me and the Foreign Minister to reach agreement under severe time constraints and the need to secure clearance from our superiors. What matters is the final version that was accepted. That final version responds to the Taiwanese demand for : 1) President’s apology to the family and the people of Taiwan for the loss of life; 2) start of the investigation (which is about to be completed); 3) convening of relevant agencies in the Philippines to consider ways to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. Financial assistance was also offered to the family of Mr. Hong. These actions were conveyed to the Taiwanese public via a press conference that followed.”
Mr. Basilio mentioned a meeting that took place on May 14 which resulted in the drafts. He justified the drafts as reflecting “a sincere effort by me and the Foreign Minister to reach agreement under severe time constraints and the need to secure clearance from our superiors.”
I was stunned. For whom was Mr. Basilio negotiating, I wondered.
The political affairs officer of the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) shed more light on what had happened during the May 14 meeting. David Chien of TECO held a briefing for Manila reporters last Monday. According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer report of the briefing:
He (Chien) said that on May 14, MECO and TECO reached an agreement on measures to take to avoid an escalation of tensions.
“The agreement included a formal letter expressing the Philippines’ response to the Taiwan government’s requests, to be delivered by Basilio to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mofa),” Chien said.
“However, when Mr. Basilio arrived in Taiwan on the evening of May 14, he presented a letter to Mofa that was completely different from the one initially agreed upon by MECO and TECO,” he said.
“The Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs and other government agencies apparently have insisted on certain wordings for the letter,” he said.
“The final version of the letter was still very different from the first letter agreed upon in the afternoon of May 14,” he said.
“Taiwan felt that this inconsistency shows the insincerity of the Philippine government in meeting the Taiwan government’s demands,” he added.
“We want a formal apology from the Philippine government, an impartial and thorough investigation, appropriate punishment for perpetrators, compensation to the family of the victim from the Philippine government, and the conduct of fishery talks between Taiwan and the Philippines as soon as possible in order to establish fishery orders in overlapping EEZs (exclusive economic zones),” he said.
The Manila Times had a very interesting take on the same briefing in the story entitled “PH official bungles talks with Taiwan”.
The story quotes David Chien as saying that a “secret phone call” from an unnamed Philippine government official “blew up everything” that had already been agreed upon between MECO and TECO officials.
Chien told reporters that the first and third versions of the letter of apology were acceptable to Taiwan. But the fourth version was “unacceptable and beyond imagination”.
I have not been able to find out the identity of this government official whose phone call resulted in scuttling everything. The Manila Times head for the story blames this official for bungling talks with Taiwan.
But did he, really?
Were the talks between MECO officials and the Taiwanese foreign ministry approved in the first place? Or did MECO officials go out on a limb; ascertained the demands of Taiwan; and then pressed the Philippine government to accede to them?
I obtained the answers from putting together the following pieces of information.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte held a press conference on the same day that Chien of TECO did. Valte told reporters it was only the fourth letter that the Philippine government had authorized. Valte said:
“The last letter that was transmitted to them was authorized by the President and I understand the contents of the letter were very precise and that it was emphasized there, it was made very clear that the President had already tasked the National Bureau of Investigation, which, in our view, has already proven their impartiality and their objectivity in investigations that they have been tasked by the President to undertake.”
In other words, it was the fourth letter that reflected the Philippine position. The rest did not.
Who then authorized MECO officials to write the first version of the apology letter which closely reflected Taiwan’s demands? (I am posting at the bottom the four versions of the letter and the Taiwan foreign ministry’s comparison of the four letters. You can download these from MOFA’s website.
And so I asked various government sources around.
A senior diplomat who agreed to talk provided he was not named told me that negotiations can and do take place informally before such letters are sent. However, the drafts are never released, never signed and never printed on official stationery.
One of the sources told me that Version 1 of the letter “was not the agreed response.”
Because of this, the two MECO officials are going to lose their jobs, although “they may not know it yet,” source added.
I wanted to know exactly why Mr Perez and Mr Basilio would lose their posts. This is the answer I got:
“The first rule of proper relations is that officials can be relied on to uphold their principals’ position and not (by) going rogue.”
While I was gathering data for my piece on Taiwan yesterday, I chanced upon an interview of Mr. Perez over radio station DZMM. He was asked whether the shooting incident had happened in Philippine territorial waters – as what Malacanang Palace and the Philippine Coast Guard have repeatedly said.
Mr Perez’ reply on radio did not follow the official line. All he said was: “Let’s wait for the investigation.”
Below are the four versions of the letter and the Taiwan foreign ministry’s comparison of them:
Version 1, page 1
Version 1, page 2
Version 2
Version 3, page 1
Version 3, page 2
Version 4, page 1
Version 4, page 2
Taiwan foreign ministry’s comparison of the four versions:
Martial Bonifacio says
This is why i keep posting that Pnoy should order or send and make a detachment in uninhabited islands in Batanes because i continously read ridiculous claims and proposals by some “alleged” taiwanese netizens/journalist.
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2013/05/25/2003563102
@Joeam
though by selling F-16 C/D will create jobs here in US specifically in Texas. It is understandable why some congressmen declines to sell the fighter jets.In contrast to the idea of the news article below, it can be also said that Taiwan’s recent action/decision (show of force) towards another ally is very troubling. That is why President Ma tries to belie and belittle his action and said it is not a military drill.
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2013/05/25/2003563134
Martial Bonifacio says
I hope he consulted De Lima before he opened his mouth:
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/309892/news/nation/phl-assures-taiwanese-probers-of-access-to-incident-video
“Ang problema lang diyan, gusto nila makita ang video na sinasabi ng NBI. Pero mukhang papayag naman si [Justice] Secretary Leila de Lima kung andito na ang imbestigador ipapakita sa kanila,”
The new Secretary to Taiwan’s Foreign Minister, Amadeo Perez seems unsure of his statements. (accdg. to Juan_Voice he got promoted)
Juan_Voice says
Again, MECO promising stuffs to Taipei it might not be able to keep.
Antonio Basilio is the secretary (since he was the one writing the drafts), Amadeo Perez is TW Deputy Foreign Minister (since he’s the one soliciting claims for Taipei) =(
I have a suggestion for Taiwan, since this Hoopla is getting a bit too political already:
Your Excellency, Ma:
In all earnest, I believe you should try settling your dispute with PRC first.
Declare Independence or whatever. Get busy with the real stuff.
You see, because of this 1-China policy, we’re finding it difficult to address this matter. We can’t do this the regular way anymore ‘coz your renegade government isn’t suppose to be.
You used to be the modest ROC, now, you’re a conceited Taiwan.
PRC used to be poor and modest, now it is rich and conceited.
You see, sometime between then and now, PRC was able to boxed you out of the limelight by becoming richer than you, selling melamine-tainted milk, mercury-laden toys, exploding batteries, recycled toilet papers, whatever, etc.
Put this independence issue to a referendum, talk to your people. Discuss with them your depleting fishery resources around your island. Ask them if it’s OK to take from others what is not theirs.
If it is fish that you wanted, you can just ask kindly. We can sell you the freshest seafood without a tint of mercury. And, we’ll even give you a discounted price on the 1st delivery. You know, we have one of the best seafood this part of Asia. Yum.
And while you’re busy consulting your advisers (not your fake secretary and fake deputy) about this matter. We, kindly ask just 1 thing from you, please keep a leash on your marine vessels and don’t let them stray too far.
In all Sincerity,
Juan
P.S. I DO NOT have authority from my president to write this.
P.S. This is just a Draft
P.S. This is Draft #1
P.S. Hell, I’m not going to sign this unless you take everything written into consideration
P.S. I ran out of letterhead.
leona says
MECO CULPA! …like mea…
Juan_Voice says
MECO, again, promising stuff to Taipei it might not be able to keep. Sigh.
Antonio Basilio is secretary to TW Foreign Minister. (since he’s the one drafting the letters)
Amadeo Perez is deputy Foreign Minister (since he’s soliciting claims for TW)
2 promotions at MECO =(
Since the whole issue is getting to be too political, I have this suggestions for Taipei:
Your Excellency Ma:
In all earnest, I believe your nation should start settling its row with PRC first.
Declare independence or whatever. Because due to the 1-China policy, addressing this matter properly with us has gotten a little bit off-track.
You see, you were once the Modest ROC. Now, you’re a Conceited Taiwan.
PRC used to be Poor and Modest. Now, it is Rich and Conceited.
Sometime between then and now, PRC was able to box you out of the limelight by becoming richer than you, selling Melamine-tainted Milk, Mercury-Laden Toys, Exploding Batteries, Recycled Toilet Papers and whatever.
You should put this independence issue to a Referendum, talk to your people, ask them if it’s OK to take from others what is not theirs, like what PRC is trying to do to you. Discuss with your citizens how the marine area surrounding your island is getting Depleted and that you need to sail further and further away for your Sushi requirements.
If it is just FISH that you wanted, you can kindly ask us, we can SELL you the Best Premium Seafood your countrymen have ever tasted. YUM. And, we’ll throw in a discount or 2 on our 1st delivery, how about that ?
And while you’re busy consulting your advisers (not your fake secretary and deputy), we have 1 simple request to ask from you: try to keep a leash on your marine vessels so they do not stray too far away.
In All Sincerity,
Juan
P.S. This is just a Draft
P.S. This is Draft #1
P.S. I do not have authority from my President for this Draft
P.S. I ran out of letterhead, sorry.
P.S. And hell, I’m not going to sign this unless you take every word written into consideration.
Juan_Voice says
Sorry @Raissa
I thought I pressed the wrong button when I posted my 1st comment coz it did not pop out after several attempts at refreshing my browser.
Now, I have 2 versions of the same comment. (Just like Basilio, grrrr) Kindly delete 1, they’re just drafts anyway. =)
Thnx
Mel says
Excerpt
The Mouse says
See….the Indonesian said they knew they were in Philippine waters!
Ask a third party and know who tells the truth
The Mouse says
And these Filipino in cohorts with him MUST BE PUNISHED too!
macspeed says
The fishing adventure of the taiwanese became a BLACKMAIL to the Philippine Government…
The FACTS was clear, why do these taiwanese go fishingin our TERRITORY??? Because there are no more fishes on their boundary, CHINA whose population has more fish REQUIREMENTS, guard their AREA and fish outside their f**cking boundaries.
Philippines 7000 plus Islands has more fishes than the fishes around Pacific and indian Ocean, proof were the whales coming and going our premises….search wiki
Poor Taiwan, wanted to have part of our fishes, Taiwans Land area 35,980 square kilometer, with 23Million people http://www.geoba.se/country.php?cc=TW, few seas to fish to he he he, sawa na sila sa dried imports, iba na ang sariwa…
Philippines is the malayong silanganan na binabanggit sa Bible, whose people are God fearing except for few greed politician (kailan kaya sila mauubos???)
Food will be the main reason for invasion sometime in the future by able countries like China he he he
Philippines happened to be a peaceful country without nuclear or weapons of mass destruction is a good choice he he he
The FINAL LETTER should have been reviewed by CPMer before Pres Noy approved and sent. The FINAL LETTER should contain: “Taiwan shall approved the contract for export of Fresh and dried Fishes and Fruits from Philippines.”
Joe America says
Yes, I was reflecting on Taiwan’s feeling of having little sea to fish in. The Philippine EEZ seals off the south to them (if it were enforced). My response would be, eat pigs and corn, the way most landlocked states do. Tough luck that God did not deal Taiwan oceans, while He was lavish with the Philippines. Indeed, if they want fish, import them from the Philippines. Very good proposal. Excellent peaceful resolution.
Martial Bonifacio says
We can also help them by teaching coral calcification.
http://www.philstar.com/good-news/2013/03/18/920892/reefbuds-revive-boracays-coral-reefs
http://www.gefcoral.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=QYGjRxOAYQw%3D&tabid=4302&language=en-US
Even Australia did the same to preserve the great barrier reef. Taiwan have the resources to implement this.
I remember the time when dynamite fishing was rampant in the 90’s until the government implemented a law that will educate fishermen and penalize those who still continue to use that kind of fishing method.
The Mouse says
I think it is their fault for overfishing their waters. Do they even combat it?
The Mouse says
Maybe, they could just have their own fishpens. This is how the city of Dagupan supplies milkfish to Luzon. They are not fished from the seas but grown in fishpens
moonie says
agree there, macspeed. with science and modern technology at their fingertips, taiwan can build sustainable eco fish farms, so they dont have to go far out to sea and battle elements. saves them trouble from having to fight for seafood too, encroaching on others territory. bit shame for a country richer than ours to venture farther out just to gather fodder. taiwan is supposed to be smarter than us, they can build multi-storey fish farms, landbound ones too. ultra modern, controlled by computers and manned by technicians. feeding fishes will be done on the dot, with no overfeeding that resulted in fish kill and depletion of oxygen in the water. no overcrowding of fries too.
Rene-Ipil says
[email protected]
More than a decade ago Taiwan had been illegally importing bangus fry including Sabalo, the mother bangus, from the Philippines. Now, they are exporting bangus fry and fingerling to Philippines after they were able to culture and produce bangus fry from the Sabalo they pirated from our waters. Catching bangus fry from the Philippine shores is now a moribund industry
Necessity is really the mother of invention, especially the need for food – fresh seafood.
Mel says
tutut,
Frozen bangus from asian marts (groceries). dito sa ilalim imported from Taiwan. I think they farm it there. Taiwan’s quarantine compliance is up to standard that passes without hitches in sensitive countries that requires without compromise of the highest standard for imported asian foods.
Mel says
Alan says
The alternative is to be quiet, do nothing and watch while our territory gets nibbled away slowly
Mel says
PNoy is a quiet person that he set the ante for new ships for the Philippines’ Navy at a tune of US$1.8 B.
As mayor longs for development in Kalayaan, others fear China’s ‘rape’ of the islands – By: Elmer Badilla and Jaime Sinapit, InterAksyon com May 22, 2013 10:09 PM
Mel says
US$1.8 B is pear shape compared to PRC’s US $280 B (military).
PRC’s hundreds of B for the last several years.
The Phils. needs a miracle. A natural ally, one who rules the heaven and earth, in control of birds and whales, who can muster natural calamities to humble the Han pride and haughty pirate.
moonie says
I’ve heard china is losing 15million a day. no one wants to buy or import chicken from china because of avian flu that also affects human. maybe it’s better for them to stay in ships, be in our shaols and far from the mainland. they’d be safe from avian flu, lol.
Mel says
heh, he heh
kung sa barko sila at nasa panatag shoal, saan naman pupunta ang droppings nila? sa ihi lang, very toxic na. lalu pa ang dumi nila. our treasured reefs, shoals and corals including our fat fishes will become endangered species.
Ooii, we must apply for world heritage para chinese free zone areas ang panatag atbp.
Not a bad idea, world opinion – world heritage. anong say mo Justice Carpio?
—
moonie says
mel, there are plenty scavenger fishes in seas and oceans. they eat dead bodies, also human wastes. urea gotten from ihi might be good for aquatic plants that in return fishes eat. it’s a cycle. yay! things mostly got downgraded except plastics, some nylon nets, fishing hooks and sinkers. hope I have not put anyone from eating fishes.
maria says
diplomacy yet Philippines must be prepared
the world is watching!
Mel says
Did you read about thousands of pigs dumped into their rivers?
You thought pasig river or manila bay was worst.
–
see uz later
macspeed says
he he he mabuti nga sa kanila, parusa at karma yan, just look at the map, the chinese bad ones, not the good ones are claiming part of islands which is too far away from china…shame on them…
maria says
yes we can import from Israel sophisticated weapons and war machinery to sting the fat dragon, many countries with advanced war weapons would be willing to sell their products, after all, there is vast of oil underneath our waters!!
macspeed says
mandirigma ka he he he, i still believe, there are more good chinese than bad ones, masosolve din ang problema jan sa territorial disputes…just a matter of dialogues between good Chinese and Filipinos…
the heavens and the earth belongs to Allah…no one should fight but sharing to the needy is what Allah wants via Jesus Christ, Prophet Mohammed and the other prophets .
China may look big but the fact cannot be hidden, billions of people equals billions of tons of food, just make it simple, if you are a mother of 10 children, you would do the bad chinese are doing….to save your children…
hurtlocker1 says
Im currently “serving my time” in the Northern desert part of KSA….
its my daily routine (araw-araw ha) to open the internet..like inquirer.net, raissarobles.com, abante,sunstar, gmanews, abscbnnews….youtube (bihira lang), and other interesting topics..
hay naku…buti na lang me internet…
Mam RAissa, its all through your in-depth analysis with the good contributions of CPMeers that blown myself into deep sighed the status of our beloved country, mainly politics and corruptions that passes great great grandfathers to the present greed-breeds of fathers/mothers to sons/daughters.
Years passed, one church pastor commented that in order to start anew the good breeding of politics, let this generations be smote to oblivion…That this nexgen is God-fearing: fear to commit sins…….ahhhh what a wishful thinking…..
As the Holy book says, the greatdevil is circling to & fro on earth with his dominions, to keep watch of his followers. That’s why, evil-minded individuals are abound in all places of the earth. In the Philippines?? Many of them.
WE do live, right now, in a fallen world, after Adam&Eve sinned.
To get up every morning is indeed a manifestation of great LOVE from HIM. And we are blessed!
We give Glory to HIS SON Jesus Christ.
GB to ALL.
raissa says
And you too.
May the Lord keep you safe, always.
Gene Simmowns says
Is it just my browser of the link is now unavailable?
raissa says
which link?
Pls post.
Gene Simmowns says
Sorry, now I can see it. It’s in a picture format pala. I thought you provided links. Weird that it was not showing earlier, just the heading. Thanks!
Gene Simmowns says
Hala! I can’t seem to access the links to the 4 draft. They’re just plain text. Can anyone please provide an alternative link? Thanks!
Joe America says
As I read the comments and links provided here, it becomes very clear that the Philippines is under orchestrated attack from Taiwan. This is beyond diplomatic misbehavior. It is dirty dealing. As the good Pope has just declared in a breathtaking critique of his own Church, every person, Catholic or atheist, has within him the earnest desire to be and do good. That is what is missing from Taiwan’s behavior. The sense of giving respect, of seeking solutions, of understanding mistakes or human judgment under pressure, of courtesy, of wanting to discover truths. It is beyond political, beyond disingenuous. It is flat-out obnoxious, dirty dealing, scumbag behavior. May Taiwan reap as she sows. That’s just my neutral opinion, as I am an ally of both countries, according to my government.
Martial Bonifacio says
Now i understand why Taiwanese authorities turned down the request of NBI to go to Taiwan:
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/75419/de-lima-disputes-report-nbi-teams-taiwan-trip-is-on-hold
“the turnover of a video to the Taiwanese investigators taken by one of the men on board the BFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources)boat” -from inquirer
Why should we turn over the video recording to them? They don’t have jurisdiction to demand this things, in fact Taiwanese authorities should file the case against PCG-BFAR in the Philippines if they truly believe that they have a strong case that it is “cold blooded-murder”.
Martial Bonifacio says
http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=2227200
Justice Vice Minister Chen Ming-tang said the group would not be allowed to travel to Taiwan for the time being because of its failure to respond positively to a request from Taipei to see a supposed video recording of the May 9 shooting.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/05/23/13/taiwan-didnt-bar-nbi-probers-palace
Ang labo sa ngayon hindi ko na malaman kung sino nagsasabi ng totoo: MECO or yung Taiwan authorities?
moonie says
or, we can give them certified copy of the video, it that pacifies taiwan. we’ll keep the original though. it’s our own intellectual property.
Martial Bonifacio says
Thats a good idea and should be acceptable to every party. At first the editor of this column was very upset which i do understand and now i’m glad that they are starting to get sober and be reasonable:
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2013/05/24/2003563016
Mel says
better still, put it into youtube for all to see.
moonie says
I think the video is vital evidence and can’t be released in youtube just yet. has to be cleared first.
the fishing vessel was new with satnav daw. I’m presuming that since it was long haul, the fishermen on board must have carried cell phones with them, for texting their families and so on. if so, they must have taken videos of the incident. one of them at lest. and yet they are keeping quiet. maybe told to keep quiet.
Mel says
Excerpt
moonie says
thanks, mel.
Joe America says
This is not a legal exercise. It is political game-playing. The result of the Philippines refusing to play the game potentially puts OFW’s at risk from irrational Taiwanese emotionalism. So the legal staff has to tread a fine tightrope slung between Taipei and Manila, twanged now and then by Peking (ahahaha). The video will eventually be released, I’m sure. It has to be material. But meanwhile, it can be a part of the game, the dangling of tits for tats. If it is likely to stoke Taiwanese emotions, then by all means hold it until they become respectful, which may be when cows can fly.
Martial Bonifacio says
I wonder if the fishing agreement between TWN-JPN was a success as President Ma tries to paint it:
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2013/05/24/2003563049
That is why i highly doubt that a fishing agreement can be implemented since the violators are the same.
Though Japan can match Taiwan’s CG to guard their territory and enforce the law. It is unlikely that our CG can implement the same thing because between PH-TWN, we are the underdog and they have the CG to just go in and out of our territory.
President Ma tries to redefine the meaning of “military drill” since it raised few eyebrows around the world.
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2013/05/24/2003563027
It would be nice if Taiwan accepts Philippines invitation to ITLOS since China already turned it down multiple times. I mean they have the same evidence regarding the “9 dash theory” right?
Joe America says
I wish I had a direct line to US satellites to track the Taiwan military vessels. If warships enter the Philippine EEZ, they need the same warning China is being given about her ships off of Palawan. Taiwan can’t seem to grasp that some nations are landlocked, and some are not. Taiwan is partially landlocked by China on the north and the Philippines on the south and perhaps should consider eating pigs and corn, like they do in Iowa. Taiwan was not dealt open seas. Tough. Deal with it honestly and honorably instead of stealing from other nations.
raissa says
LOL.
parengtony says
I posted the following comment on an Inquirer article related to this topic:
parengtony • 2 days ago
Taiwanese tuna longliners have been able to operate within Philippine territory for many years now by conveniently taking advantage of a MOA of some sort between the Taiwan and PH government where the Taiwanese boats are allowed to unload and export their catch as well as procure supplies and services in a Philippine fishport under the PFDA (Philippine Fishery Development Authority).
Obviously this MOA is a sweetheart deal largely in favor of Taiwanese fishermen. Over the years it is quite clear that Filipino fishermen have been able to derive little or no benefit at all from this one way grant of privilege to the powerful and well organized Taiwanese fishing group composed of thousands of members.
•Edit•Reply•Share ›
NAGMAMARUNONG parengtony • a day ago −
@parengtony. NOT ONLY THEY OPERATE LONG LINERS! THEY ARE INTO LARGE TUNA PURSE SEINERS OPERATED BY PINOYS.
After reading this quite revealing (to use Joe America’s adjective) piece by Ms. Raissa, I get the sense that Mr Basilio et al are in cahoots with the highly influentialTaiwan fishing industry lobby. It is money talking here, I’m afraid.
van says
How is this not economic sabotage in the long run? Our local growers and harvesters are getting screwed left and right, be it by illegal (smuggling) AND legal means. Someone earlier said it right, it becomes apparent that MECO is primarily a business entity before a diplomatic rep loyal to the Filipino people.
Mel says
BREAKING NEWS ON CYBERCRIME LAW
Martial Bonifacio says
Alam mo bakit biglang tinanggal ng DOJ yung libel?
Para pwede ng mag rant si Sec. De Lima online after lumitaw yung mga photos ni mancao sa harap ng NBI at DOJ hahaha :)
Mel says
heh he heh.
tignan nating kung pupuwede na kina CJ Sereno atbp.
siguradong preparado na si Theodore Te ang kaniyang media (press) release sa SC desisyon.
mau-uso na naman ang mga
strikethroughsa comments dito.Joe America says
Please share this with Senator Binay, as I understand one of her first announced initiatives is to regulate social media. I detect that she may be a little light on grasping the nuances of freedom.
raissa says
Really, Joe?
Pls. post link.
Thanks.
Joe America says
http://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections-2013/29649-nancy-binay-social-media-tv-ads
Martial Bonifacio says
The latest venom thrown by their government to us:
http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=2227999
In inquirer it says that NBI was given the go signal but in taiwan the ministry of justice said it has rejected the request of Manila.
http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=2227200
Question since i’m not a lawyer. Where will they file the case (PH or TWN)?
Pwede bang sabihin na kung saan isasampa yung kaso, siya yung may jurisdiction sa pinangyarihan ng insidente? Then it will hit the issue of “sovereignty.”
Alan says
Maybe this is what happened:
1. After news of the fatal shooting broke, the MECO officials (who happened to be in Manila at that time) went into a huddle with their TECO counterparts here — maybe without informing the DFA and the Palace.
2. The MECO and TECO officials worked together in creating three possible apology drafts – again possibly without informing the Palace.
3. Taipei indicated it liked drafts 1 and 3
4. MECO officials then told Palace what they had done. Palace blew up.
5. Palace ordered the writing of A fourth draft, which became the actual apology
6. This (draft #4) was presented to Taipei, which in turn blew up in rage and imposed sanctions.
Juan_Voice says
And TW foreign minister David Lin was dictating to Mr. Basilio what to write. Linsanity working its magic.
Mel says
Linsanity?
Hey Johnny Lin, do you have something to do with this?
After a long hiatus, you came back a few days ago. Anu ang inside info?
Martial Bonifacio says
@Mel hindi ako naniniwala sa linsanity, mas kapani-paniwala pa kung inamin na lang ni basilio na kamag anak niya si sisa.
Mel says
LOL!
Si Basilio at si Crispin (Perez), sinu kaya ma iscratch sa MECO?
salamat pala sa mga scoop mo @Martial.
incidentally,
The Basilios, are Erlinda Basilio (Ambassador to China) and Antonio Basilio (Phils.’ permanent Representative in MECO) related to each other?
Juan_Voice says
Breaking News:
Representative Basilio of Meco promoted to Secretary…
Secretary to Taiwan’s Foreign Minister David Lin.
For his excellent job in writing every word the Minister dictates to him.
Alan says
HAHA
Mel says
part of the package, PERMANENT residency in Taipei.
biru lang basilio. nagkamali ang draftee, move on.
Martial Bonifacio says
Habang waiting for moderation yung original comment ko another good perspective regarding territorial dispute was written by Randy David in Inquirer entitled “When neighbors fight.”
baycas says
1-China Policy versus 1-Draft-3-Official-Taiwan Policy
What is the implication of using “Philippine government‘s regret and apology” rather than “Philippine people’s regret and apology”?
Political pundits in a radio station yesterday morning said, “NO difference.” They then lambasted Carandang of mishandling the situation.
@Rene-Ipil and @manuelbuencamino,
What’s your opinion?
manuelbuencamino says
Philippine people includes me, Philippines government covers only those who work in the government.
manuelbuencamino says
Also for the letter to include the word “government” instead of “people” would be a tacit recognition of Taiwan as a sovereign state. We have a people to people relationship with Taiwan through MECO-TECO and not government to government. Political pundits in radio stations failed to grasp that diplomatic nuance that’s why they are in radio stations and not diplomatic posts. :-)
baycas says
:)
…but they do misinform their Anti-Csrandang, anti-Aquino listeners.
:(
Rene-Ipil says
[email protected]
The government is not the people, and the people is not the government. In relation to the draft letters, the term government refers to PNoy and the persons administering our country, while the term people refers to the citizens of the Philippines. Consistent with the one China policy of the Philippine government, the latter does not recognize Taiwan as a country with its own government. But the Filipino people does not distinguish the people of Taiwan from the people of Shanghai or Hongkong. As far as the Filipinos are concerned, they are all Chinese. The distinction is about their domicile, i.e., people of Taiwan, Hongkong, etc.
So that the “Philippine people” is not the “Philippine government”. Indeed, the donation, commiseration and apology offered to the Hung family and people of Taiwan emanate from the people of the Philippines. In the same vein, the Filipino people engages in business with the people of Taiwan. No formal government to government relations. No embassies, no consulates. MECO is around to facilitate trade and business between the peoples of the Philippines and Taiwan.
baycas says
Thanks.