Government officials in Taipei have demanded that the Philippine government apologize for opening fire on a fishing boat, resulting in the death of a Taiwanese fisherman on Friday.
The Philippines claimed that the Taiwanese vessel had tried ramming the Philippine boat first.
Taiwan's president Ma Ying-jeou said that the nation expects an apology, as well as compensation.
"We demand the Philippines investigate and clarify the truth, to apologize, apprehend the killer and compensate."
The boats faced off between the northern tip of the Philippines and the southern coast of Taiwan at about 10:30 a.m. Friday, according to the New York Times.
A statement released by the Philippine Coast Guard said that some Philippine surveillance vessels came across four Taiwanese fishing boats in an economic zone that the Philippines claims is theirs.
But according to the Taiwanese government, both countries have claimed the area.
Coast guard officials tried to board one of the fishing ships to inspect it, when another vessel suddenly rammed into the Philippine one. The latter boat responded by setting off some warning shots, then opening fire on the engine and propeller of the Taiwanese ship, in efforts to disable it.
One of the shots struck a fuel tank, and killed the 65-year-old Taiwanese fisherman.
Taiwan's Foreign Minister David Lin said that he hopes the Philippine government will make due reparations.
"We urge the Philippine government to open a full investigation on this case and send their apology to Taiwan's government," Lin said.
Raul Hernandez, spokesperson for the Philippine department of foreign affairs told the press that the crew on the Philippine vessel would be let go for the time being, while the government opened an investigation.
Coast Guard Commander Armand Balilo said that the men did not do wrong, as they were merely following orders to stop fisherman from dipping into illegal waters.
"If someone died, they deserve our sympathy, but not an apology," he said. "This is part of Philippine waters."
Taiwan and the Philippines have not yet parsed out which area of the water belongs to what country, and most of these zones overlap.
Whether or not the Taiwanese fishing boat did truly ram the Philippine vessel is still under investigation.
