When A State Isn’t A State

Taiwan has slapped The Philippines with sanctions for not apologizing with sufficient respect for the death of a Taiwanese fisherman during a confrontation with the Philippines Coast Guard.

Earlier on Wednesday Taiwan recalled its envoy to the Philippines. The sanctions included the freezing of applications for work permits, and the cessation of economic exchanges and military exercises in waters between the two sides. A spokesman for Philippine president, Benigno Aquino, had said a formal apology was being offered to the appropriate authority in Taiwan over the “unfortunate loss” of the fisherman.

But Taiwan’s premier, Jiang Yi-huah, said the apology was inadequate because it called the fisherman’s death unfortunate and unintentional, according to a statement from the Taiwan government on its website.

Escalation Pressure Builds Between Manila and Taipei

What good is hegemonic authority when the United States won’t get pushy for law and order in the South China Sea?

The United States on Monday voiced regret over the death of a Taiwanese fisherman killed when the Philippine coast guard fired on his vessel, but stopped short of condemning the incident.

“We regret the tragic death of a Taiwan fishing boat master during a May 9 confrontation at sea with a Philippine patrol vessel,” State Department spokesman Jen Psaki told reporters.

“The United States has been in touch with both the Philippine government and the Taiwan authorities regarding this incident. And we welcome the Philippine government’s pledge to conduct a full and transparent investigation.”

Pressed by reporters to take a stronger stand, Ms Psaki said merely that Washington continued to urge all sides “to refrain from provocative actions.”

A Philippines coast guard vessel puts 55 holes in a Taiwanese fishing vessel, a man takes a bullet, and that’s all you got? Both Manila and Taipei are offering differing accounts of the incident.

The accounts differ. Philippine authorities claim that the fishing boat was intercepted approximately 43 nautical miles east of Balintang Island in the Balintang channel, and was therefore operating illegally in their country’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ). They also contend that the Kuang Ta Hsing provoked the shooting by trying to ram the Filipino Maritime Control Surveillance 3001, an “aggressive act” that forced its crew to take defensive action.

Bolton Vs. Bandow On North Korea

I thought this would be a battle of extremists. This polite exchange between former United States amabassador to the United nations, John Bolton, and Doug Bandow, Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute, on Fox reveals how the conservative end of the American political establishment has moved beyond intervention.

Knock me over, but Bolton isn’t spitting blood and backing intervention with every fiber of his soul. Bolton is emphasizing security no matter the cost. Bandow is essentially making checkbook arguments (via The Marmot’s Hole).