The ROC Ministry of Foreign Affairs is pressing the U.S. to provide details on an incident that resulted in the death of a Taiwanese captain off the coast of Somalia.
“We have requested that the U.S. and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization investigate the recent gunfight that led to the death of Wu Lai-yu,” Minister of Foreign Affairs Timothy Yang said May 31.
“Upon learning of the tragedy May 21, MOFA responded immediately by confirming the news with NATO, while extending our condolences to Wu’s family,” Yang added.
Wu, formerly head of Taiwanese fishing vessel Jih-chun Tsai 68, was gunned down during a May 10 anti-piracy mission conducted by the USS Stephen W. Groves off the East African coast, according to MOFA.
Yang said while the government did not negotiate with the pirates to avoid escalating extortion, it has continued to assist Wu’s family in obtaining information and private negotiators.
American Institute in Taiwan spokesman Christopher Kavanagh said AIT’s Kaohsiung Branch chief had personally visited the Wu family in Kaohsiung to extend his condolences on behalf of the U.S. government.
AIT has already obtained an official letter for the family attesting to the death and burial at sea of Wu, Kavanagh added.
Meanwhile, MOFA spokesman James Chang advised Taiwanese fishing vessels to avoid operating in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Somalia as the region is notorious for frequent piracy activities.
He noted that relevant government agencies have been discussing ways to offer some form of protection to Taiwan’s fishermen working in high seas. (HZW)
Write to Kwangyin Liu at kwangyin.liu@mail.gio.gov.tw