Activists file lawsuit against Japanese PM in Yilan

SHINZO ABE SUED:The activists also criticized President Ma Ying-jeou for making concessions in bilateral fishery negotiations with Japan that ‘sacrificed Taiwan’s territory’
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

A group of activists filed a lawsuit against Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe over the Diaoyutai Islands (釣魚台) at the Yilan District Court yesterday, as well as a lawsuit against a judge at the court for malfeasance and treason.

Led by former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator Chang Chun-hung (張俊宏) and former DPP chairman Hsu Hsin-liang (許信良), dozens of activists accused Abe of “infringement of Taiwan’s fishing rights” following Japan’s nationalization of three of the islands, known as the Senkakus in Japan.

Fisherman, officials argue over Manila’s claims of poaching

SEEKING ASSISTANCE:A fisherman said that he was only found trespassing in Philippine waters because of a mechanical problem, a claim that officials refuted
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Government officials and a fisherman detained by the Philippines for eight days earlier this month yesterday argued over whether the fisherman had been arrested for poaching in the Philippines’ territorial waters.

Tsai Po (蔡波), who was arrested by Philippine officials 40m off Ditarem, an islet in the northern Philippine province of Batanes, on Sept. 3 on charges of illegal entry and poaching, told a press conference yesterday that he was only trespassing because he needed assistance due to a mechanical problem on his motor-powered raft.

COA pledges to safeguard rights in fishing talks

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter, with CNA
Mon, Oct 15, 2012 - Page 3

The Council of Agriculture’s Fisheries Agency yesterday said that it will protect the fishing rights and traditional fishing grounds of local fishermen at talks with Japan that could be resumed next month, despite the ongoing territorial dispute over the Diaoyutai Islands (釣魚台).

Instead of touching upon the sensitive issue of sovereignty over the disputed island chain, defining the overlapping waters between Taiwan and Japan is to be the focus of the long-stalled 17th round of talks, the agency said.

Diaoyutais a fishing rights issue: ex-president

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter, in Nantou County

Former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) yesterday said the dispute over the Diaoyutai Islands (釣魚台) was about fishing rights rather than a sovereignty issue and that President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) recent proposal was “thoughtless.”

“This has always been an issue of fishing rights. It is not a sovereignty issue,” Lee said during a question-and-answer session on the second day of his three-day visit to central Taiwan.

Asked by reporters about Ma’s proposal to resolve the controversy in two stages — which calls for holding three sets of bilateral dialogues between Taiwan, Japan and China, before holding a three-party talk — Lee said “no one in the international community would buy into the initiative.”

Ma needs ‘bold’ territorial policy: forum

GET HARDER:：The Ma administration should make its voice heard in the international community and craft precise policies on disputed regions, a forum advised yesterday
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter
Fri, Jul 20, 2012 - Page 3

President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) should present “clearer and bolder policies with precision” on the Diaoyutai Islands (釣魚台) and the South China Sea territorial disputes and improve Taiwan’s “hard power” rather than dwell on talks of “soft power,” panelists in a forum said yesterday.

“Ma’s overemphasis of soft power and neglect of Beijing’s military threats have not been a healthy development for Taiwan,” Lin Cheng-yi (林正義), a researcher at the Institute of European and American Studies at Academia Sinica, said at the forum on escalating tensions in Asia.

Taiwan vessel released from pirate control: EU Navy

Taipei, Jan. 29 (CNA) Taiwanese fishing vessel Taiyuan 227 had been released after being hijaced by Somali pirates for nine months, European Union Naval Force Somalia (EUNAVFOR Somalia) said Saturday Taiwan Time.

"Although exact details surrounding the situation are not known at this time, there are indications that the Taiwanese flagged fishing vessel TAI YUAN 227 has been released from pirate control, " the naval military operation -- codenamed Operation Atlanta -- established to protect maritime security said in a release posted on its website.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) is trying to confirm the news, " Bruno C.H. Shen, deputy director-general of the MOFA's Department of African Affairs, told CNA by telephone Saturday morning.

"We have not received related information or contact from the crew so far, " he said.

The Kaohsiung-based longliner with 28 crew members from China, Vietnam, Kenya, Mozambique and the Philippines was held May 6 last year while operating northeast of the Seychelles.

The vessel's owner "apparently received a call from the master stating that they had been released but that they did not know why, " EUNAVFOR said in the release, adding that the crew were provided with fresh water and food by a United States warship after their release.

Taiyuan 227, which had likely been used as a pirate mothership until three days ago according to the EUNAVFOR, is now heading away from Somalia.

Latest statistics of the EUNAVFOR showed that there are two Taiwanese fishing vessels still in the hands of pirates-- Zechuntsai No. 68 and Shiuh Fu No. 1, which were hijacked in March and December of last year, respectively.

There are 30 vessels and 711 hostages being held by Somali pirates as of Friday, according to the statistics. (By Chris Wang) enditem/jc

MOFA urges Taiwan ships to buy piracy insurance

Taipei, Jan. 11 (CNA) Taiwanese fishing boats planning to enter the Western Indian Ocean, where Somali pirates have hijacked numerous fishing vessels, are encouraged to buy insurance against piracy attacks, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) official said Tuesday.

In 2010, Somali pirates hijacked six Taiwanese fishing vessels in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden. Three of the boats were released upon payment of ransoms, two remain in Somalia and one has been listed as missing, Bruno C.H. Shen, deputy director-general of the MOFA's Department of African Affairs, said at a press briefing.

The government has been trying to assist is many ways, including notifying international maritime organizations of the hijackings and gathering information through Taiwan's foreign representative offices, but it cannot possibly cover ransoms, Shen said.

"The MOFA and the Fishery Agency under the Council of Agriculture are encouraging all fishing boats that are sailing into the Western Indian Ocean, where piracy is prevalent, to buy piracy insurance," he said.

Somali pirates have reportedly demanded ransoms ranging from US$1 million to US$9.5 million from ship owners. The record sum of US$9.5 million was paid by a Korean company Samho Shipping last November to free one of its oil tankers that was carrying roughly $170 million worth of Iraqi crude oil, according to a report in the Korean newspaper Joongang Daily on Nov. 8, 2010.

Piracy insurance, which is also known as terrorism insurance, covers negotiation assistance, direct financial help, and counseling for ship owners, Shen said.

He said that while there are not many insurance companies that offer this kind of policy, there is at least one foreign company that has expressed interest in providing such coverage in Taiwan.

Two Taiwan boats, Zechuntsai No. 68 and the Kaohsiung-based Taiyuan No. 227 that were hijacked last year in March and May, respectively, are still being held by pirates in Somalia, Shen said.

The owner of the Kaohsiung-based longliner Hsiuh Fu No. 1 has not been able to contact the boat since Dec. 25 last year and the vessel has been listed as missing, Shen said.

According to maritime watchdog Ecoterra International, at least 45 foreign vessels and 787 hostages were in the hands of Somali pirates as of Jan. 10.

Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported that Somali pirates raked in at least US$60 million in ransoms in 2009. (By Chris Wang) enditem /pc

Taiwanese fishing vessel feared hijacked by Somali pirates: MOFA

Taipei, Dec. 31 (CNA) A Taiwanese fishing boat was feared to have been hijacked by Somali pirates in waters near Madagascar off the coast of eastern Africa after having been out of contact since Dec. 25, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said in a press release Friday.

The Kaohsiung-based longliner Hsiuh Fu No. 1 lost contact with its Taiwanese owner after being chased by unknown vessels Dec. 25 and the MOFA said it could have been hijacked in Madagascar's exclusive economic zone, given recent extensive Somali piracy activities there.

There were 26 people on board, including the Taiwanese skipper, as well as 12 Chinese and 13 Vietnamese crewmen, according to the Council of Agriculture's Fishery Agency.

The MOFA launched an emergency mission upon learning about the vessel's disappearance, instructing Taiwan's representative office in Cape Town, South Africa to seek assistance from the government of Madagascar as well as contacting the Malaysia-based International Maritime Bureau's Piracy Reporting Center, the ministry said in the press release.

The maritime watchdog Ecoterra International said on its website that the Shiuh Fu No. 1, which is licensed by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission to fish in the waters, had been hijacked and that "on Dec. 28 the vessel maintained a strange, patrol-like pattern along Latitude 52 on the northeastern side of Madagascar."

The European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia reported that there are "strong indications that FV Shiuh Fu No. 1 has been pirated" and the conditions of the crew and the vessel are unknown.

According to the EU NAVFOR, there are 26 vessels and 613 hostages being held by pirates off the coast of Somalia. (By Chris Wang) ENDITEM/J 

Delegation to explore co-development offer on Indonesian islet

Taipei, Oct. 12 (CNA) A delegation departed for the Indonesian island of Morotai Tuesday as Taiwan mulls the Indonesian government's offer to have Taiwan help develop the island, officials of the two countries said Tuesday.

The Southeast Asian country has contacted Taiwan to participate in developing in the island, which is located between the Philippines and New Guinea and has a population of 50,000 people, confirmed Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) spokesman James Chang on Tuesday.

Taiwan welcomed the offer, he said.

Indonesia's representative to Taiwan Harmen Sembiring, officials from the MOFA's Department of Asian and Pacific Affairs and a group of Taiwanese businessmen embarked on a trip to the underdeveloped island Tuesday to conduct a preliminary evaluation, said Irene Pan of the Indonesian Economic and Trade Office to Taipei's Investment Department.

The delegation is scheduled to return to Taiwan Oct. 19, she said.

Pan said Indonesia's Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries first made contact with Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) in September when Minister of Economic Affairs Shih Yen-shiang was in Indonesia at the head of a trade and investment delegation.

"The Indonesian side hopes to attract Taiwanese investment in the sectors of seafood production, fishing, aquaculture and tourism, " said Kuo Fu-chuan, a senior technical specialist in the MOEA's Department of Investment Services.

The evaluation is still in its initial stages, Kuo said, and the Fisheries Agency still needs to gather data on Morotai's hydrology, fish species and fishing regulations before conducting its evaluation.

After that, government agencies will be able to brief local businessmen on investment opportunities.

Indonesia has also offered Taiwan Sugar Corporation and state-run oil refiner CPC Corp. Taiwan the opportunities to establish an oil refinery and development land in other parts of the archipelago country, respectively, Kuo said.

Premier Wu Den-yih said at a legislative hearing Tuesday morning that there is no timetable yet for the development project because further assessment is needed.

The MOEA's Shih said it was still too early to go into the specifics of the project, but he noted that there has been a lot of interest among local businesses to invest in Indonesia.

Taiwan's accumulated investments in Indonesia total US$13.95 billion, according to the ministry.

Morotai is best known as the site of the Battle of Morotai in World War II in 1944 and was used as a springboard for the Allied invasion of the Philippines in 1945. (By Chris Wang) enditem/ls

Taiwanese vessel 'Feng Guo 168' confirmed safe: MOFA

Taipei, Oct. 11 (CNA) A Taiwanese fishing vessel suspected of being hijacked in the Indian Ocean near Mauritius has been confirmed safe, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) official said Monday.

The "Feng Guo 168" has not been seized and arrived in the Mauritius capital Port Louis on Sunday afternoon with all 14 crew members confirmed safe, said Samuel Chen, director-general of the Department of African Affairs under the ministry.

"It was misidentified as a piracy case at first because the vessel's sailing course was strange. There were probably some quarrels between the captain and the crew, " Chen said of the boat with a Taiwanese captain, eight Vietnamese, two Indonesians and three Chinese on board. The vessel headed south to Mauritius after sailing north toward Somali waters.

The crew members contacted their families and the boat owner after reaching Port Louis, Chen said.

The ministry said it was informed by the Council of Agriculture's Fishery Agency at noon on Oct. 6 that the fishing boat, which is registered in the southern port of Tungkang, Pingtung County, could have been hijacked in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Mauritius.

The case was reported as the most southerly hijacking case by Somali pirates since the European Union's anti-piracy mission began in December 2008.

The European Union Naval Forces Somalia, which was established to fight Somali piracy, protect vessels and monitor fishing activities off the coast of Somalia, had reported the boat as safe Oct. 8 after sending out a false report the previous day saying the vessel had been hijacked.

MOFA spokesman James Chang said on the same day that the ministry was still unsure whether the boat had been hijacked by pirates or its own crew. (By Chris Wang) enditem/bc

Status of hijacked Taiwanese boat remains unclear: MOFA

Taipei, Oct. 8 (CNA) The status of a Taiwanese fishing boat suspected of being hijacked in the Indian Ocean not far from Mauritius remained unclear as of Friday evening, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) official has said.

The ministry was informed by the Council of Agriculture's Fisheries Agency at noon Wednesday that the vessel "Feng Guo 168, " with a Taiwanese captain, eight Vietnamese, two Indonesians and three Chinese on board, might have been hijacked in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the island country.

The ministry was still unsure whether the boat had been hijacked by pirates or its own crew on board, MOFA spokesman James Chang said.

France, which sent a reconnaissance aircraft to locate the ship and has monitored its course since Wednesday, has agreed to continue its assistance, Chang said.

The vessel is now heading south to Mauritius after sailing north Thursday.

The MOFA also officially requested the assistance of Mauritius' government to ensure safety of the longliner in the country's EEZ.

The ministry said it has been trying to gather information about the ship through its representative offices in South Africa and France as well as Taiwanese fishery officials in Mauritius.

It has also sought the assistance of the Malaysia-based Piracy Reporting Center of the International Maritime Bureau and the maritime liaison office of America's Bahrain-based Fifth Fleet. (By Chris Wang) enditem/ls

Taiwanese fishing boat feared hijacked in Mauritius: MOFA

Taipei, Oct. 7 (CNA) A Taiwanese fishing boat might have been hijacked off Mauritius waters in the Indian Ocean, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said in a press release Thursday.

The ministry said it was informed by the Council of Agriculture's Fishery Agency at noon time Wednesday that the Feng-guo 168, which registered in the southern port of Tungkang, Pingtung County might be hijacked in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the island country.

Crew members of the longliner included a Taiwanese captain, eight Vietnamese, two Indonesians and three Chinese, the MOFA said.

In addition to trying to gather the latest information about the ship through its representative office in South Africa and France as well as Taiwanese fishery officials in Mauritius, the foreign ministry said it has also sought the assistance of the Malaysia-based Piracy Reporting Center of the International Maritime Bureau, a subsidiary under the International Maritime Organization, and the maritime liaison office of America's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet.

A France patrol aircraft has arrived at the scene and has located the boat, according to the ministry.

The incident was believed to be the first hijack case in the Mauritius EEZ, the MOFA said. (By Chris Wang) Enditem 

Taiwan not siding with China on Tiaoyutai issue: MOFA

Taipei, Sept. 14 (CNA) The Taiwan government said Tuesday it is not siding with China in an incident involving the collision of a Chinese fishing boat and two Japanese patrol vessels in the area of the disputed Tiaoyutai Islands on Sept. 7.

The presence of a boat carrying two Taiwanese activists in the area Monday was the result of "a spontaneous reaction by Taiwanese nationals" to make clear their opinion that Taiwan holds sovereignty over the Tiaoyutai Islands, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) spokesman James Chang said.

"The Taiwan government is responsible for protecting their safety, " Chang said at a press conference, in reference to Taiwan's decision Tuesday morning to dispatch 12 Coast Guard vessels to the area.

"Taiwan is not teaming up with China in the controversy," Chang said.

However, he said, the Taiwan government is against the action by Japan's Coast Guard to prevent the Taiwanese boat from further approaching the disputed islands, which lie about 100 nautical miles off Taiwan's northeast tip in the East China Sea.

All activities by boats in the vicinity of the Tiaoyutais are under Taiwan's jurisdiction, Chang said, reiterating Taiwan's sovereignty over the islands.

Known as the Diaoyutai Islands in China and the Senkaku Islands in Japan, the uninhabited islands are claimed by Japan, China and Taiwan, but are controlled by Japan.

The latest dispute was set off by the arrest of a Chinese fishing boat skipper after his trawler and two Japanese Coast Guard vessels collided on Sept. 7.

The fishing boat crew was questioned on suspicion of violating the fisheries law and on their alleged rejection of a request by the Japan Coast Guard to inspect the boat, according to international wire reports.

On Monday afternoon, two Taiwanese activists set off for the Tiaoyutais to show support for Taiwan's claim to the islands, but their action was thwarted Tuesday morning by Japan's Coast Guard.

Also on Monday, Taiwan's Deputy Foreign Minister Shen Lyu-hsun summoned Japan's top envoy to Taiwan Tadashi Imai and reiterated that Taiwan held sovereignty over the Tiaoyutais.

In response to reporters' questions, Chang said Shen's move had nothing to do with China, which also summoned the Japanese ambassador there to express concern over the detention of the fishing boat skipper.

In terms of the fishing rights in the Tiaoyutais, Chang said, Taiwan advocates "collaboration" between Taiwan and Japan through bilateral consultation.

He declined to answer a question on whether Taiwan had consulted with China on the latest Tiaoyutai dispute.

Chang said that Taiwan hopes the issue of fishing rights, which has been discussed in the last 16 fishery talks between Taiwan and Japan, will not jeopardize the ties between them, which have been growing since President Ma Ying-jeou took office in 2008.

The latest Tiaoyutai dispute spurred a protest in Taiwan by about 100 people, who gathered Tuesday in front of the Interchange Association, Japan's representative office in Taipei in the absence of official bilateral diplomatic relations. (By Chris Wang) enditem /pc

Taiwan struggling ahead of Morakot anniversary

The Taiwan government is working hard to complete a massive reconstruction plan as the anniversary of the most deadly typhoon to impact Taiwan in half a century approaches.

Typhoon Morakot hit Taiwan Aug. 8, 2009, leaving 677 dead, 22 missing and causing more than NT$100 billion in damages. The storm produced 2,777 millimeters of rainfall and mudslides that wiped out Siaolin in the southern county of Kaohsiung, killing around 500 in the village alone.

A Morakot Post-Disaster Reconstruction Council was soon established to handle a wide range of reconstruction works, including resettlement of typhoon victims, a victim employment plan, the repair of breached dikes and dredging of rivers, the distribution of relief funds and the revitalizing local industries, especially in agriculture and fisheries. A budget of NT$151.9 billion was allocated for relief and post-disaster reconstruction.

President Ma Ying-jeou, who was criticized for mishandling the post-disaster relief and subsequently suffered in approval ratings, pledged to relocate all the victims by the anniversary and reiterated the point in his weekly video address on July 31 -- but that goal will not be completed in time.

According to Premier Wu Den-yih, as of Aug. 2 only 1,480 of 2,586 affected households have moved into newly constructed permanent homes. Wu cited weather conditions in the worst-hit eastern and southern Taiwan regions for the shortfall.

The reconstruction work may not live up to people's high expectations, but Wu said on Aug. 1 that the government had done its best. Some lessons the government learned in the aftermath of the deadly typhoon were probably as important as the reconstruction work itself, the premier said, such as making disaster relief a core task for Taiwan's military forces and the integration of government agencies involved in relief efforts.

Wu also praised efforts by Taiwan's civic organizations in the past year.

All 63 repair projects in the most dangerous areas have been completed, Yang Wei-fuu, director-general of the Water Resources Agency (WRA) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), said in a press conference Wednesday. Although less than 70 percent of all repair projects have been finished, they will be done by the next high-water season in 2011, Yang added.

Dredging of rivers is among the most difficult tasks, Yang said, noting that 1.2 billion cubic tons of gravel had filled river beds and reservoirs after the typhoon. The project is ongoing, but it will take years to finish the dredging, he said.

The WRA had dredged 87.2 million cubic tons of gravel -- approximately the same volume as 42 Taipei 101 buildings -- as of Aug. 1, he said. However, Dredging of the Taimali River in the eastern county of Taitung is way behind schedule, he added.

The MOEA also offered financial relief and mortgages to businesses in several towns in the worst-hit areas as well as providing assistance to businesses in the sectors of farming, fisheries, livestock and forestry.

The Council of Labor Affairs has said it has provided 13,940 employment opportunities for typhoon victims under its "August 8 Temporary Work Plan."

By Chris Wang CNA Staff Reporter

enditem/bc

Taiwan pledges more participation in fishery organizations

Taipei, Aug. 3 (CNA) Government officials pledged during an international forum Tuesday to forge closer participation in international fishery organizations to prove Taiwan's commitment as a responsible member of the global fishery community.

"As an important player in the high seas fishing industry, Taiwan has been promoting its partnerships in various organizations, " Council of Agriculture (COA) Minister Chen Wu-hsiung said in his opening remarks at the opening ceremony.

The International Fishers' Forum (IFF), co-hosted by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, a U.S. federal organization tasked with managing and implementing laws governing fishing activity, and Taiwan's Fisheries Agency under the COA, has brought together officials and scholars from 25 countries for the three-day forum.

The forum is geared toward commercial fishery operators, management authorities, experts in marine spatial planning, fishing technology experts, seafood retailer representatives, marine ecologists and fisheries scientists.

Over the past decades, fishing has contributed greatly to Taiwan's food security and economic stability, said Fisheries Agency Director-General James Sha.

However, the country, which has one of the largest blue water fishing fleets in the world, has been accused several times of over-fishing and fish laundering by international fishery organizations.

The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) decided in 2005 to cut Taiwan's bigeye tuna fishing quota of 14,900 tons in that year by 70 percent to 4,600 tons. The sanction was not lifted until a year later.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Taiwan is full member of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, the International Scientific Committee for Tuna and Tuna-like Species in the North Pacific Ocean and the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna. It has cooperator status in the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission and the ICCAT.

In addition, it is an observer in the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission and an "invited expert" of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission.

The government has fine-tuned its fishery policy to make sure international regulations are upheld and the sustainability of fish stocks is improved, Sha said, adding that the forum is hopeful of deciding upon a "Taipei statement" before its conclusion.

In addition to improving the sustainability of fish stocks and protected species with which these fisheries interact, the IFF also intends to bring the fishing industry into the relatively new dialogue of marine spatial planning and management -- a process that brings together multiple users of the ocean to decide on how to make best use of ocean resources.

"Marine spatial planning is a relatively new topic for us, but we are keen to understand more about it and do the best we can to make our industry better, " said Hsieh Wen-Jung, chairman of the Taiwan Deep Sea Tuna Longline Boat-Owners and Exporters Association. (By Chris Wang) ENDITEM/J

Taiwan to host international food security, fishery forums

Taipei, July 29 (CNA) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Thursday that plans for international forums on fishery and food security in Taipei next month are a sign that Taiwan is engaging itself more with the international community.

The International Fishers' Forum (IFF) will gather officials and scholars from 25 countries from Aug. 3-5, while the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Food Security Forum will be held in Taiwan for the first time from Aug. 18-20, according to Lily Hsu, director-general of MOFA's Department of International Organization.

The IFF will be co-hosted by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WPRFMC), a U.S. federal organization tasked with managing and implementing laws governing fishing activity, and Taiwan's Fisheries Agency under the Council of Agriculture (COA), she said at a press briefing.

As Taiwan has one of the largest fishing fleets in the world, its engagement in the international fishery community is welcomed, Hsu said, adding that the fact the WPRFMC invited Taiwan to co-host the forum shows that Taiwan's efforts in fishery conservation have been recognized.

The central objective of the IFF is to bring the fishing industry into the relatively recent dialogue of marine spatial planning and management.

Food security, a pressing issue for Taiwan, will be discussed in the APEC Food Security Forum, which is seen as a prelude for the Ministerial Meeting on Food Security to be held in October in Niigata, Japan. Chinese officials are expected to attend the meeting, she said.

A U.S.-hosted workshop on "Ease of Doing Business in the Agricultural Sector" will be held alongside the Food Security Forum. (By Chris Wang) enditem/bc

Taiwan boat feared hijacked by Somali pirates

Taipei, May 8 (CNA) A Taiwanese longline fishing boat is believed to have been hijacked by Somali pirates west of the Maldives, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Saturday in a press release.

The ministry said it was informed by the Council of Agriculture's Fishery Agency and the Coast Guard Administration late Friday that there had been no contact with the Taiyuan 227 since Thursday night. The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) and Malaysia-based Piracy Reporting Center were immediately appraised of the situation, the MOFA added.

The owner of the boat managed to make contact early Saturday via satellite phone with the vessel, which was sailing toward Somalia, and was asked by unknown persons on board the boat to pay a ransom, the ministry reported.

The MOFA said there are no Taiwanese crew members on the Kaohsiung-based Taiyuan 227, the third Taiwanese fishing boat to be hijacked or attacked near Somali waters in the last two months.

The Zechuhtsai, a longline fishing boat, was hijacked by Somali pirates on March 30 and another vessel, the Juimanfa, managed to escape after a three-hour chase by pirates that same day.

Relatives of the Taiwanese crew members on the Zechuntsai are still negotiating with the Somali pirates and have asked the MOFA not to interfere in the process, Samuel Chen, director-general of the ministry's Department of African Affairs, said in a press briefing Thursday.

Taiwan's representative offices in India and South Africa have been instructed to request assistance from the governments of those countries, the MOFA said.

Another Taiwanese boat, the Win Far No. 161, was released in early February after its owner paid an undisclosed sum to the Somali pirates who had hijacked the ship and had been holding its crew captive since April 6 last year. (By Chris Wang) enditem /pc

MOFA probing alleged slavery in Costa Rica involving Taiwanese

Taipei, April 13 (CNA) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Tuesday that it was trying to collect information on the involvement of Taiwanese nationals in an alleged case of the enslavement of 36 Asians on fishing boats and suspected human trafficking in Costa Rica.

The MOFA was responding to reports from media outlets stating that three men and one woman -- three of which are Taiwanese -- were arrested by the Costa Rican authorities at the port of Puntarenas and accused of using 36 Asians on two fishing boats as slave labor. All the suspects were released under their own recognizance.

The ministry instructed its embassies in Panama and Nicaragua to monitor the situation and collect information, as there are no diplomatic ties between Taiwan and Costa Rica, MOFA deputy spokesman James Chang said.

Costa Rica severed diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 2007 after maintaining official ties for almost 60 years.

"We would like to express our concern from a humanitarian standpoint for the people abused if the case proves to be true, " he said, adding that although the four had been released, the Costa Rican authorities were still investigating the case.

Costa Rican police Sunday freed the 36 Asians -- 15 Vietnamese, 13 Indonesians, five Filipinos, two Taiwanese and a Chinese national -- from "inhumane" conditions aboard two fishing boats, Agence France-Presse (AFP) and local paper La Nacion reported, adding that the men were allegedly beaten and forced to work for up to 20 hours a day without pay.

The case surfaced after nine Vietnamese men escaped by jumping overboard, swimming to shore and alerting the authorities four months ago.

Two employees surnamed Espinoza and Wang, and a brother and sister by the family name of Tseng who are the president and treasurer, respectively, of the Imperio Pesquero del Pacifico S.A. company, were finally arrested Saturday.

A local newspaper reported that the three Taiwanese and one Costa Rican were charged with human trafficking, which in Costa Rica carries a sentence of between eight and 16 years in prison. (By Chris Wang) ENDITEM/J

3 Taiwan fishing boat crew missing in Philippines, 3 rescued: MOFA

Taipei, April 8 (CNA) Three fishermen aboard a stranded Taiwanese fishing boat in the northern Philippines were rescued Thursday while another three were missing, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said later that day.

The Okinawa-registered Taiwanese fishing boat the Cheng Cheng Feng, with a crew of six -- two Taiwanese and four Indonesians -- ran aground early Thursday, the ministry said.

However, a story published by German's Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA) reported that all six had been rescued. The story quoted Chief Superintendent Roberto Damian, a regional police director, as saying that one was rescued by helicopter and the other five were rescued by other vessels from rough waters off Mabudis Island, Batanes Province, 540 km north of Manila.

The MOFA said it immediately instructed Taiwan's representative office in the Philippines to contact the Philippine authorities upon learning that the three men were still missing. After receiving approval from the Philippines, Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration dispatched rescue boats to the area for a joint search and rescue mission with its Philippine counterparts, the ministry said.

The mission to find the three missing men was still ongoing, the MOFA said.

Local authorities suspect that the fishermen were poaching in the area when the accident occurred, Damian was quoted by DPA as saying. (By Chris Wang) ENDITEM/J

MECO head reviews Philippine-Taiwan relations, gauges impact of ECFA

Taipei, March 31 (CNA) Although the proposed cross-strait trade agreement could present challenges to relations between Taiwan and the Philippines, it could also open opportunities, the Philippines' top diplomat in Taiwan told CNA in an interview Wednesday.

Ties between the Philippines and Taiwan are at their best in years after strained relations due to disputes over aviation rights during 1998-2000 and later the Spratly Islands, said Antonio Basilio, managing director and resident representative of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) -- the Philippines' official authority in Taiwan in the absence of diplomatic ties.

Taiwan and its closest neighbor to the south not only have signed memorandums of understanding ranging from labor, trade and investment, science and technology, and transfer of criminals, but the Philippines is also one of the few ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries that conduct regular ministerial visits to Taiwan, Basilio said.

The Philippines also attends three annual meetings on joint economic relations, science and technology, and labor relations with Taiwan, he said.

Responding to a question about the possible impact of the proposed cross-Taiwan Strait economic cooperation framework agreement, which aims to relax tariffs and trade regulations between Taiwan and China and is expected to be signed in June, Basilio said that while the agreement could have an impact on the Philippines' economy, it also presents new prospects.

"Actually we've already felt (the impact) even before the negotiations began, " he said, noting that when cross-strait travel restrictions were relaxed, the number of tourist arrivals from Taiwan to the Philippines dropped.

"We foresee that when most of the restriction to investment from the mainland is lifted, it may result in closing and moving (to China) of some Taiwanese plants. That means less employment of our workers in Taiwan," he said.

However, Basilio pointed out that the agreement could also present opportunities for the Philippines, which will be able to expand the concept of "economic corridor" to include China. The Philippines can also provide skilled labor like teachers and engineers for Taiwanese businesses aspiring to move up the value chain with high-end products.

The economic corridor is a project aimed at linking economic zones between Taiwan and the Philippines to make the Philippines "Taiwan's entry point to the ASEAN market, " taking advantage of the fact products processed in the Philippines can be seen as ASEAN products and enjoy duty-free privileges.

For Taiwanese businesses that also operate in China, it might be possible to find a mechanism to help transport products from one place to the other, depending on their needs, he said.

"We're watching the situation (of the negotiations) very closely," he said.

The MECO would like to facilitate more two-way investment, Basilio said. However, like Taiwan, China is also a major attraction for Philippine corporations.

"We have not been able to attract bigger companies, but we're successful in attracting the small- and medium-sized businesses, " he said.

Notable Taiwan investors in the Philippines include computer maker ACER, information and communication service provider Wistron Corporation, automaker Yulon Motors and some LCD manufacturers.

Basilio would like to see Taiwan relax part of its trade regulations, which "hampered our ability to export fresh food and meat products to Taiwan." He would also like to resolve the long-standing issue of high brokerage and service fees for Filipino workers in Taiwan by creating a mechanism that allows employers to directly hire Filipino workers.

He said his office is collaborating with Taiwanese counterparts to speed up the judicial process for Taiwanese fishermen detained for illegally entering Philippine waters.

Reflecting on the 10 years he has served in the office, Basilio said that he was most proud of restoring relations to the level they previously held. He added that he was happy with the signing of agreements in various areas and steady development of many cooperation projects.

Looking ahead, the seasoned diplomat said he intends to complete rules and regulations regarding the economic corridor to enable products and workers to move freely between the countries. His office would also like to make efforts to increase the Philippines' share in Taiwan's automotive parts market. (By Chris Wang) enditem/bc