The recent shooting by the Philippine Coast guard of a lone Taiwanese fisherman illustrates the kind of governmental response that we Filipinos deserve when we ourselves  fall victims to an internationally wrongful act. Under international law, there is state responsibility for an internationally wrongful act where there is a breach of international law and when the breach is attributable to the state. Here, it appears that because the killing was because of a shot fired by a state organ, a member of the Philippine Coast Guard, it would seem that the killing may be attributed to the Philippines government. Acts of state organs, no matter how lowly their ranks, are always attributed to a state.

Furthermore, there too appears to be a breach of international law since the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea prohibits the use of unnecessary use of force in dealing with illegal fishermen. In fact, the UNCLOS provides that  fishermen caught illegally fishing in a states exclusive economic zone should not even be detained or charged criminally. The only leeway granted  to a party state is to apprehend the vessel which, in turn,  must be immediately  release upon posting of bond.

But the lesson is how government should espouse the claim of  its national, even if there is one solitary victim. Not only did the highest echelon of the Taiwanese government demand for an apology, it also demanded compensation and even threatened the Philippines with both military and economic reprisals, even if both are prohibited by  international  law. This is in stark contrast  with the current practice of the Philippine government. Only recently, 200 of our nationals became sitting ducks to  Malaysia’s illegal resort to excessive force.  Our response was to threaten our nationals with domestic prosecution.

Because we committed an internationally wrongful act, we have the obligation under international law to apologize and provide compensation to the victim. This though is the full extent of our liability. Taiwan’s demand that in addition, we enter into a fishing agreement with it is bereft of legal merit. Taiwan is not an independent state and should not expect to be treated as such. Any fishing agreement involving overlapping areas of our exclusive economic zone should be with the People Republic of China. This is  consistent with the international communities’ recognition of the so-called one-China policy; that is, Taiwan forms part of the People’s Republic of China and is not a republic on its own.

This latest experience should also teach our policy makers to act with dispatch where it is our government incurs international responsibility. Since the shooting was at the behest of a state organ, the Philippine Coast guard, the investigation should not have lasted as long as it did. It entails requiring the Master of the coast guard vessel to report what transpired that led to the shooting. Absent evidence that it was in self-defense, the Philippines should have apologized with dispatch and should not have waited for any formal demand to do so. Our failure to act with dispatch consistent with our  international obligation gave  Taiwan the opportunity to exploit the incident to promote its own interest.

Harry Roque Jr. is a professor of law and director of the University of the Philippines Law Center's Institute of International Legal Studies. Visit Harry Roque's blog. Follow him on Twitter @attyharryroque.