Coast guard personnel who sprayed bullets at a Taiwanese fishing boat last week may have violated rules for dealing with such a situation, Philippine newspapers have reported.

A Taiwanese fishing boat that was intercepted on May 14 by Vietnamese government vessels on open seas arrived home in Southern Taiwan yesterday, with the skipper saying he was surprised that the boat was not seized by the Vietnamese government.

The United States reiterated its call Thursday for Taipei and Manila to work out a resolution to their row over the fatal shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman by the Philippines on May 9.

Legislators across party lines reiterated yesterday their condemnation of the Philippines over the fatal May 9 shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman, but urged Taiwanese nationals to treat Filipinos in Taiwan rationally.

Taiwan and Singapore have concluded negotiations on a free trade agreement and both sides are expected to officially sign the deal soon, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said yesterday.

A Philippine special envoy left Taiwan for the Philippines yesterday after failing to resolve growing friction over the death of a Taiwanese fisherman who was shot dead by the Philippine coast guard in overlapping waters last week.

Taiwan's military and the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) yesterday held a joint exercise in overlapping waters with the Philippines in the South China Sea amid escalating tensions between the countries after the shooting and killing of a Taiwanese fisherman by the Philippine coast guard last week.

Taiwan's military and the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) yesterday held a joint exercise in overlapping waters with the Philippines in the South China Sea amid escalating tensions between the countries after the shooting and killing of a Taiwanese fisherman by the Philippine coast guard last week.

Taiwan's military and the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) yesterday held a joint exercise in overlapping waters with the Philippines in the South China Sea amid escalating tensions between the countries after the shooting and killing of a Taiwanese fisherman by the Philippine coast guard last week.

The United States expressed concern Wednesday over the increase in tension between Taipei and Manila over the fatal May 9 shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman by the Philippines and urged the two sides to work toward an effective resolution of their differences.