Accra:Premier Cho Jung-tai announced that a patrol vessel donated by Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration to the Philippines would not be used in waters near Taiwan or areas frequented by Taiwanese fishing vessels.
According to Focus Taiwan, the vessel, formerly the CGA's 500-tonne-class Kinmen, was officially transferred to the Philippine Coast Guard on October 2. During the donation process, the Philippines assured Taiwan that the vessel would be used only for specific missions and not in regions associated with Taiwan. Additionally, the vessel could potentially assist Taiwan if necessary.
In response to inquiries from opposition Kuomintang lawmaker Su Ching-chuan regarding past incidents between Taiwanese fishing vessels and Philippine authorities, including the 2013 incident where a Taiwanese fisherman was killed, Premier Cho emphasized the lessons learned from such events. He suggested that improved exchanges between the two nations could prevent future conflicts.
Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling noted that Taiwan and the Philippines have established frameworks for cooperation in law enforcement and emergency reporting related to fisheries. Both countries are enhancing their partnership in maritime humanitarian efforts.
Kuan highlighted that the Philippines has shown goodwill by setting up communication and coordination systems to ensure the safety of fishermen from both nations. Additionally, the CGA has placed a liaison officer at the Manila Economic and Cultural Office to maintain communication and minimize conflict risks during maritime operations. This initiative aims to prevent incidents similar to the 2013 Guang Da Xing case.
She further explained that Taiwan has a history of transferring decommissioned vessels to other countries, which serves as a tool to bolster diplomatic and humanitarian relations.
