Want China Times
Date: 2015-07-16
By: CNA
Taiwan and the Philippines are still seeking to sign an agreement to cooperate on law
The Sheng Feng No. 12, a fishing boat detained by the Philippines on May 7. (File photo/Hsu Chih-chun)
enforcement in fishery matters in their overlapping economic waters as soon as possible, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday.
Asked about the progress of the signing of the pact, ministry spokeswoman Anna Kao said that “both countries hope the agreement will be signed as soon as possible,” without giving a timetable.
In an effort to speed the process, a group of Taiwanese government officials visited the Philippines in June to conduct negotiations on related issues with their Philippine counterparts, she added. The two sides discussed issues such as the scope of law enforcement by the respective authorities and bilateral channels of communication, she said.
Earlier this month, the Philippines’ representative to Taiwan, Antonio Basilio, said he was optimistic that the agreement will be signed soon. In June, he said the pact could be signed by the end of July. [FULL STORY]
