TAIPEI - Taiwan's representative in the United States has maintained that he has clearly explained Taipei's position to Washington in the wake of the ongoing row with Manila over the deadly shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman by the Philippine coast guard.

King Pu-tsung, Taiwan's de facto ambassador in Washington, said he has also provided the US side with evidence to show that Manila has been giving "false accounts" of the shooting.

King, during a press conference, said his representative office has been maintaining clear and strong communication with the US government ever since the row started, letting Washington know that Taipei cannot accept Manila's claim that the death was "unintended", or its apology made under such a claim.

President Ma Ying-jeou has openly condemned the shooting as "cold-blooded murder". Taiwan has stopped bringing in migrant workers from the Philippines, among several other sanctions against the Southeast Asian neighbour.

King said the Philippines has been trying to tone down the severity of the shooting and has offered an "insincere" apology.

While trying to avoid responsibility over the incident, the Philippines is also attempting to mislead the international community into believing that Taiwan is being unreasonable for refusing to accept its apology, King said.

The Philippines is also seeking to taint Taiwan's reputation by highlighting the possibility of its migrant workers being mistreated in Taiwan, he said.

The Taipei representative disclosed that he has been trying to let "foreign friends" know the truth and prevent them from being misled by the Philippines.

He said he has shown the US side the "most convincing" evidence - pictures of the fishing boat riddled with 59 bullet holes - to prove that it was a case of "shoot-to-kill."

He also noted the size difference between the small Taiwanese fishing boat and the much larger Philippine vessel to dismiss Manila's claim that the former tried to ram the latter.

Asked what stance the US side has taken over the dispute, King said he is not in a position to speculate on that.

Meanwhile in Taipei, American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Public Affairs Officer Sheila Paskman said the shooting incident should be thoroughly investigated and both sides should avoid overreacting in the meantime, according to the United Evening News.

Maintaining that she was not speaking on behalf of the US State Department, Paskman said she personally feels that both Taiwan and the Philippines must calm down to avoid making reckless and wrong decisions in spite of the tremendous pressure coming from their own people.

Paskman, who is leaving Taiwan soon, has more than 20 years of experience in diplomatic affairs under her belt.