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Updated Thursday, February 24, 2011 11:04 pm TWN, The China Post news staff |
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Blame is misplaced in deportation rowIt all started right after 24 suspects were rounded up in Manila last Dec. 27 for cheating people on the Chinese mainland out of 140 million yuan, or US$20 million. Only ten of them are Chinese. But Manila sent them all to China on Feb. 2. Taipei felt affronted, recalled its representative in Manila, and suspended processing visa applications for Filipino migrant workers desiring to come to Taiwan. A diplomatic issue of this kind occurs from time to time, and usually, it can be settled without either side being seriously harmed, unless Taiwan's free and not so responsible press continues to encourage politicians blaming the authorities concerned for trying to sell out Taiwan's sovereignty. The press failed to tell the readership the crime was not committed in Taiwan. But on learning they had been arrested, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Antonio Basilio, Filipino representative in Taipei, twice to express concern. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called a meeting of representatives of all government agencies concerned to reach a decision on how to cope with the threatened deportation of all 24 suspects from the Philippines to the People's Republic. No decision could be reached, however. Only after the deportation did Taipei protest and take “punitive” action against the Philippines. Politicians, those of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party in particular, blamed the foreign ministry and other government agencies related for failure to take prompt action, claiming it was solely due to the Beijing-leaning or “love-China” policies President Ma Ying-jeou is alleged to continue following. The failure resulted in turning the issue into one between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, they pointed out. By so doing, one top opposition party leader charged that Ma was trying to sell out his country's sovereignty. They are placing the blame in the wrong place. Comments February 24, 2011 beth8637@ Reply I hope this write up will serve as an "eye opener" to all the parties involve and i wish that press people would stop pouring more "gas" and be responsible enough to weigh things instead of encouraging politicians to blame each other . I admire foreign minister Yang. He see things in a very different prospective, I admire Mr. Mar Roxas for his effort. Mabuhay ka Pilipinas and Long live Taiwan February 24, 2011 gracedimalibot11466@ I completely, totally agree with you. February 26, 2011 elumpen@ If Taiwan had had the sense to ban the death penalty here, they could have argued for repatriation on the basis that the suspects are at risk of inhumane punishment; it might not have worked, but it would have given Taiwan the moral high ground.As it is, Taiwan still applies the death penalty. While they may not execute people for fraud, the fact capital punishment is applied at all takes away much of the legitimacy of the argument you present. On the other hand, it's a bit of a mystery why the gov't would want to spend millions of $ annually keeping yet more people in jail ... just to save face. Let the Chinese spend their money instead, if they wish to! February 26, 2011 jefflin70@ Manila really made some serious mistakes in handling the case. "Sorry" as a word is useless if no actions are done (it can happen again). There needs to be some way to prevent these mistakes from happening again, and punish those responsible for these mistakes. It is not an issue of sovereignty. We need to be reasonable, not emotional over this issue. February 27, 2011 someone@ Finally, someone talks some sense about this deportation issue. Although I don't think they will be executed. | |||||||||||||
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