President Ma Ying-jeou says that a recently concluded fisheries agreement between Taiwan and the Philippines represents a milestone in Taiwan-Philippine relations.
Ma was speaking on Friday during a meeting with US State Department official Matthew Matthews.
“This is a very important milestone in the past few decades of our relationship with the Philippines. You can say that it is the first achievement since the announcement of the South China Sea Peace Initiative in May this year", said Ma.
The South China Sea Peace Initiative is a proposal made by President Ma promoting cooperation in the South China Sea.
Ma said that the Taiwan-Philippine fisheries agreement requires both sides to refrain from violence in cases of suspected illegal fishing. According to Ma, the agreement also sets up an alert system allowing both sides to inform one another of the detainment of fishing boats. Ma also says that the agreement requires the speedy release of detained fishermen.
The agreement comes two years after a Philippine coast guard vessel opened fire on a Taiwanese fishing boat operating in waters located between the two countries, killing a Taiwanese fisherman. Ma said that Taiwan respects the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and believes in the peaceful resolution of disputes.