Wang Yu-chi (王郁琦), minister of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), yesterday thanked mainland China for its concern over the recent spat between Taiwan and the Philippines, stressing, however, that it is the responsibility of the Republic of China government to protect the nation's fishing rights in the South China Sea.

Members of the Pingtung District Prosecutors Office are slated to leave today for the Philippines to further investigate the recent shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman by Philippine coast guards.

A long-awaited apology on behalf of Philippine President Benigno Aquino III and his nation was issued through a special envoy last night to the family of a Taiwanese fisherman slain by a Philippine coast guard last Thursday.

Taiwan's representative to the Philippines Raymond Wang yesterday returned to Taiwan amid the increasing row with Manila, following the recent killing of a Taiwanese fisherman in the two countries' overlapping waters.

Taiwan's National Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday unveiled its 4G licensing plan with a starting bid of NT$35.9 billion, more than twice as much as the 3G licensing starting bid.

The stock gains tax is a “straw-man” that serves only a superficial purpose without providing any actual positive effects, Wang Chien-shien (王建瑄), the president of the Control Yuan, said recently.

Shares in Taiwan closed above the 8,300-point mark Wednesday on futures-led buying as foreign institutional investors pushed the spot market higher to add value to their futures holdings, dealers said.

The U.S. dollar rose against the Taiwan dollar Wednesday, gaining NT$0.122 to close at the day's high of NT$30.028, marking the first time since April 9 that it finished above NT$30.00, dealers said.

Indonesia's efforts to set up Morotai, one of its northernmost islands, as a special economic zone, could be concluded by the end of this year, Indonesia's representative to Taiwan Ahmad Syafri said.

The Council of Labor Affairs (CLA) issued a statement early yesterday morning that Taiwan will immediately freeze all worker applications from the Philippines in-line with the president's 72-hour ultimatum for retaliatory measures against the close neighbor.