A parallel investigation into the fatal shooting of a 65-year-old Taiwan fisherman by Philippine coastguards on May 9 began on Monday with the arrival of a second Taiwan team in Manila and a Philippine team in Taipei.

Both sides hope the parallel investigation becomes a form of judicial cooperation to gather more information on the death of Hung Shih-cheng, the Central News Agency reported on Monday.

A team of eight Taiwan judicial officials and experts has arrived in the Philippines and plans to visit the coastguard vessel, examine the guns used to fire on the vessel and review video footage of the shooting.

But the news report didn't reveal how long the team will stay. A previous team, which arrived in Manila on May 17, failed to collect any evidence.

The other team, consisting of eight Philippine officials, which is planning to stay in Taiwan for four to five days, also started on Monday to examine ballistic tests, the fisherman's autopsy results and other evidence from local prosecutors in Pingtung.

Although the Philippine team wants to conduct another autopsy, authorities have refused as the victim's family had not given them approval.

The death of the fisherman has raised tensions between Manila and Taipei and the latter has launched economic sanctions against the Philippines.

They included a ban on the hiring of new workers and recalling its envoy. Taiwan has also demanded an apology from the Philippines and an admission of responsibility for the fisherman's death. 

Authorities in Taiwan have insisted that the ship was fishing within its exclusive economic zone when the shooting took place, and released the boat's voyage data records as evidence.

The Philippines has claimed that the coastguards were forced to fire at the fishing boat as it intruded into its waters and tried to ram into their vessel.

Global Times - Agencies