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Updated Monday, February 21, 2011 10:49 pm TWN, CNA

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Apology from Manila over row a must: Wu

TAIPEi -- Offering an apology is the least the Philippine government should do to resolve a diplomatic row with Taiwan, said Premier Wu Den-yih Sunday on the eve of the arrival of a special envoy from Manila to patch up damaged relations.

The Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) on Friday confirmed that former Senator Manuel Roxas has been tapped by Philippine President Benigno Aquino III to visit Taiwan and explain Manila's decision on Feb. 2 to deport 14 Taiwanese fraud suspects to China despite Taiwan's repeated request for their repatriation.

The move angered Taiwan, which saw it as an infringement of its sovereignty, prompting it to unleash a string of punitive measures against the Philippines, including tightening up the screening process for Filipinos who want to work in Taiwan.

“Offering an apology is a necessary condition of his visit. No apology means a lack of sincerity,” the premier said when asked about Roxas's visit.

The premier then hinted that both sides reached a certain level of understanding on the matter before the envoy was dispatched, but he would not say if the Philippines had agreed to make a formal apology.

“Our firm stance is that the Philippine government must apologize for what happened,” Wu said resolutely.

The premier described Manila's decision as faulty and inappropriate in many ways, and he said it hurt the feelings of Taiwan's people and disparaged the longstanding friendship between the two countries.

He also pointed to many voices within the Philippines, including those of some media outlets and politicians, who were questioning their own government's decision to send Taiwanese nationals to China.

Despite Taiwan's discontent, the Philippine government and its justice department have stuck to their stance that they did nothing wrong and the decision to deport the men to China was legitimate and in the country's national interest.

The 14 men were allegedly part of a crime ring that preyed on Chinese nationals. Authorities have said that the syndicate swindled its victims out of NT$600 million (US$20.6 million).

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Comments

February 21, 2011 gracedimalibot11466@

The Philippines did the right thing. That’s the truth.

February 21, 2011 ekraft46@

Philippines as usual can't walk and chew gum at the same time. Hopefully Taipei will shut off all Filipino workers from Taiwan. Let King Aquino provide jobs for his own people.

February 21, 2011 ooitc@

What will Taiwan authorities do, if all victims are from Taiwan?? Will you do the same request to Philippines to deport all Chinese nationals to Taiwan as well?? This is the golden opportunity to teach those who commit crimes in 3rd country.

February 22, 2011 diegosilang@

gracedimalibot11466@ wrote:
The Philippines did the right thing. That’s the truth.

Yeah, the right thing, and now you'll ALL lose your jobs here in TAIWAN. WE don't need FILIPINOS workers, they're LAZY and full of PLASING at work. SHAME ON YOU!!!

February 22, 2011 duckbilltw@

Taiwan should shut the doors for the coming of Filipino workers coming to Taiwan. The labor office should also fine workers breaching their contract or using Taiwan as a jumping board for a third country. A lot of Filipino workers are breaching their contract and bound for Third countries what they call cross country.

February 22, 2011 lightcrusaderjr@

Taiwan kept sending criminals, scammers and producers of illegal drugs to the Philippines that seriously harm its people. Has Taiwan ever apologized to the Philippines? Now Taiwan wants to apologize for dealing with its own criminals that Taiwan does not want to stop. Where is the sense of righteousness of Taiwan? Is its government truly for working for the best interests of its people or just for the powerful? Why is its government so protective of criminals?

February 22, 2011 nung.yang723@

Is the Philippine gov't so numbed to the plight of the more than 80,000 Filipino OFW's in Taiwan? If she was humble and meek enough to offer apology to the bungled hostage crisis in Manila to the point of even extending financial assistance to victim's relatives, why can't she apologize for this bungled and wrongful deportation of Taiwanese nationals to China? Was it because of the pressure from the "mighty" China? In spite of Taiwan's proof of citizenship and demand for repatriation, she still deported them to China. This is a clear violation of Taiwan's sovereignty.
I agree that unless she offer an apology, no further talk is necessary with whomever emissary she send to mend the damage caused.

February 23, 2011 ekraft46@

lightcrusaderjr@ wrote:
Taiwan kept sending criminals, scammers and producers of illegal drugs to the Philippines that seriously harm its people. Has Taiwan ever apologized to the Philippines? Now Taiwan wants to apologize for dealing with its own criminals that Taiwan does not want to stop. Where is the sense of righteousness of Taiwan? Is its government truly for working for the best interests of its people or just for the powerful? Why is its government so protective of criminals?

Was that a Taiwanese that killed all those Hong Kong tourists? How about all those generals in the Philippines stealing all that money for themselves? Don't think any were from Taiwan. People of the Philippines should clean up there own country before bad mouthing other countries. Send the Filipino workers home NOW!

March 6, 2011 strawluffy@

So be it. Taiwanese is so abusive on its reaction like they think Filipinos killed all their nationals in the Philippines which is not. Remember Philippines deport dangerous people and Taiwan will deport and will stop hiring decent people, humble and hardworking people. in my point of view think Taiwan is just belittle philippines because it has big problems economically and weak how about philippines will just eat Taiwan’s insults and other bad mouth lets see how far this will continue, philippines has a lot of resources, it still has abundant resources, and it has millions skilled people how about things turn around and corrupt practices in the philippines destroyed and it can reboot its economy these people working abroad like in Taiwan has strong manpower to facilitate economy even building its own military industry in the near future and at the end will just ignore Taiwan independent position against china and will not participate in diplomatic concerns on Taiwan stands on its independent will. So there are scenarios bad scenarios to occur in the future which is not practical. Philippines will not go ahead as corrupt and weak forever sooner a political stand will occur to destroy its own internal problems and its technological knowledge will fueled its own desire to protect its sovereign interest. manpower still the best army to build its own power and in my point of view Taiwan to start its own dispute with the philippines just because its own criminals is not saved is not a good idea because 95 million Filipinos and counting to 100+more, an anti-communist and catholic country can still a threat to even against mighty china.

March 7, 2011 com2010@

The Philippines is a corrupt and lawless country. The only reason why they get hired abroad is because they are cheap labor. They should stay in their own country and stop taking foreign jobs. They are a menace to society!