‘No pact on fishing for now’

President Aquino. GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

NAYPYITAW—A fisheries agreement between the Philippines and Taiwan will not be forged anytime soon.

In a press conference here Friday night at the close of the three-day World Economic Forum on East Asia, President Benigno Aquino III said much had yet to be done by both sides before such an agreement could be pursued.

“From the start, they were saying that, but as I said, let’s finish this issue first before we talk about the fisheries agreement,” the President said.

The opening of fishery talks is one of four demands Taiwan made to the Philippines following the fatal shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman, Hung Shih-chen, by Filipino coast guards on May 9.

Hung was killed by gunfire from a Philippine vessel on May 9 when his fishing boat strayed into overlapping Philippine and Taiwanese waters.

The incident sparked a heated diplomatic row.

Reports quoted Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala as saying that a technical working group composed of fisheries officials from both countries would soon meet.