The Hsiung Feng III missile struck and passed through a local fishing boat without exploding, killing the Taiwanese captain and injuring three crew members, including a Filipino and a Vietnamese.
Government officials said the incident was the result of human error during a training exercise. The MOFA informed the Manila Economic and Cultural Office and the Vietnam Economic-Culture Office in Taipei that citizens of their respective nations were injured while aboard the fishing vessel Xiang Li Sheng. MOFA also directed its representative offices in the Philippines and Vietnam to express the government’s sympathies to the families of the injured crew members.
The ministry further notified the American Institute in Taiwan, as well as the Singapore Trade Office in Taipei, of the incident. The Mainland Affairs Council communicated with Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office, while the Straits Exchange Foundation simultaneously spoke with mainland China’s Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits. Soon after, officials in Japan were also notified of the situation.
MOFA stressed that the event was an accident, and has no bearing on ROC cross-strait or diplomatic policy; the ROC’s commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the region remains unchanged; and the ROC will provide a comprehensive account of the incident following further investigation so as to prevent any misunderstandings. (OC-E)
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