Philippines Says It Obeyed Engagement Rules in Sea Shooting
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The Philippines said a coast guard vessel obeyed the rules of engagement when it fired on a Taiwanese boat in a May 9 confrontation that killed a fisherman and strained relations between the two countries.
Officers on the patrol boat opened fire when the fishing vessel’s crew tried to stop them from boarding a separate, bigger Taiwanese ship that was also in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, Transportation Secretary Joseph Abaya told reporters in Manila today. The shots were meant to immobilize the fishing boat that was blocking the way, he said.