TAIPEI, Taiwan — President Tsai Ing-wen, in her capacity as commander-in-chief, extended her deepest regrets and condolences on Monday to the family of a Taiwanese skipper killed by a misfired missile last week.
Holding an incense stick, Tsai paid tribute to the slain fisherman Huang Wen-chung and promised his grieving family that the government would get to the bottom of the situation and ensure that justice is served.
On Friday, a military vessel in Zuoying Military Harbor of Kaohsiung accidentally fired a missile that punctured a fishing vessel in the waters off of Penghu two minutes later.
The Defence Ministry later revealed that the locally produced Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missile was responsible for the incident, which killed one and injured three.
Tsai said she had instructed the Defence Ministry and Justice Ministry to work on the incident as part of a cross-ministerial team.
The president went on to instruct Kaohsiung City Mayor Chen Chu and the Defence Ministry to provide all assistance possible to the Huang family, which lost its main breadwinner.
The Kaohsiung mayor, who accompanied Tsai to Huang’s residence, told media that Tsai had spoken to Huang’s widow and said she was disappointed that “such an incident had happened.”
“I apologise on behalf of the government,” Tsai said, according to Chen.
The Kaohsiung mayor instructed the city government’s Legal Affairs Bureau, Marine Bureau and Social Welfare Bureau to provide assistance for the family and to handle the matter of state compensation, according to Presidential Office spokesman Alex Huang.
Photos of Kao Chia-chun’s smiling face, a second class petty officer and the weapon systems operator, was posted outside Huang’s mourning hall by the bereaved, in a protest against his lack of remorse.
The photo was taken on June 2 as Kao left the prosecutors’ office after undergoing questioning upon Kaohsiung prosecutors’ summons, who was also released on bail. Upon being surrounded by the media, Kao gave a “strange smile,” local media reported, garnering extreme ire from Huang’s surviving family members.
Tsai remained at the Huang’s residence for around 40 minutes before leaving with a solemn expression. She declined to respond to press questions regarding the fate of her defence minister.
Huang’s Family Want Answers
Huang’s family members made eight demands on the Tsai administration, including state compensation, according to information provided by the Kaohsiung Government, local media reported.
Family members of the deceased demanded a clear explanation of the situation, and why the Navy had failed to make any rescue efforts immediately after learning of the shipwreck.
They wished to see the Republic of China’s national flag draped over Huang’s casket and to be compensated with a new fishing vessel, as well as for the funeral.
They said they wished to see the government take responsibility and take care of Huang’s family’s financial needs before the new vessel is completed, and to provide for the other two foreign crew members whose lives were also disrupted.
During a legislative interpellation session Monday, Defence Minister Feng Shih-kuang promised to co-operate with the family as much as possible.
On the morning of the missile misfire incident, news of a military vessel launching the Hsiung Feng III missile went viral on the internet.
Navy Command Headquarters asked Kaohsiung prosecutors to look into the situation, giving rise to concerns of a possible leakage of confidential secrets.
As of press time, Kaohsiung prosecutors have divided up the case and are currently investigating it.
