The fatal shooting of a Taiwan fisherman by the Philippine Coast Guard last week continues to fuel tensions between Taipei and Manila. Manila must be aware that it will only face more condemnation and countermeasures if it intends to use delaying tactics to handle the incident.

That it has taken Manila four days to agree to apologize for the killing shows its insincerity as well as its indifference to human life, not to mention that, before a representative of Philippine President Benigno Aquino made a formal apology to Taiwan on Wednesday, Manila's responses had been anything but apologetic.

Immediately after Aquino's belated apology, Taiwan expressed its strong dissatisfaction and revealed its decision to adopt countermeasures, including freezing Filipino applications for work permits. It is what Manila deserves.