Taiwan holds naval drill amid row with Manila

Taipei. Taiwan’s military has conducted a naval drill in waters between Taiwan and the Philippines, close to the spot where Filipino coast guard personnel opened fire on a Taiwanese fishing vessel last week, killing a 65-year-old-crew member.

Thursday, May 16, 2013
The shooting of the Taiwanese fisherman took place in disputed waters between Taiwan and the Philippines. Net photo.

Taipei. Taiwan’s military has conducted a naval drill in waters between Taiwan and the Philippines, close to the spot where Filipino coast guard personnel opened fire on a Taiwanese fishing vessel last week, killing a 65-year-old-crew member.Several vessels, including two missile boats as well as jet fighters, took part in the drill on Thursday, underscoring Taiwan’s anger over the incident, which has dominated local media coverage for the past week.On Thursday, the Philippines issued a second apology to the Taiwanese government for the deadly incident, Al Jazeera’s Marga Ortigas, reporting from Manila, said.  In a meeting with Taiwan’s foreign ministry, Amadeo Perez, a special representative of Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, said he was conveying "the Filipino people’s deep regret and apology over the unfortunate and unintended loss of life” following the May 9 incident.Perez also said that the Philippine government is ready "to give financial assistance to the family” of the dead fisherman.