Taiwan lifts Philippine sanctions over fisherman's shooting

TAIPEI - Taiwan authorities on Thursday evening announced a decision to lift all 11 sanctions against the Philippines over the fatal firing upon a Taiwan fishing vessel by Philippine Coast Guard officers in May.

The sanctions were lifted as instructed by Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou, according to Taiwan authorities.

Fishing vessel Guang Ta Hsin 28 of Taiwan was fired at by Philippine Coast Guard officers on May 9 in a sea area 160 nautical miles southeast of Taiwan. The attack resulted in the death of a 65-year-old Taiwan fisherman.

Following the incident, Taiwan slapped a slew of sanctions against Manila, including a freeze on hiring of new Filipino workers to the island and a travel ban to rebuff Manila's response to the incident.

Taiwan labor authorities said that since the freeze on hiring Philippine workers was imposed, 14,000 Filipinos' work application to Taiwan have been thwarted.

After an investigation, the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation recommended on Wednesday the filing of homicide charges against the eight members of the Philippine Coast Guard involved in the shooting.

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