The spokesman for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office on Thursday strongly condemned the reported fatal shooting of a Taiwan fisherman by the Filipino military.

China demands the Philippines investigate the incident thoroughly and swiftly, Yang Yi said, labeling the shooting "barbaric."

"We are in deep mourning over the fisherman's death and expresses condolence over the shooting," Yang said.

According to the island's fishing authority and Taiwan media reports, a Taiwan fisherman was shot dead on Thursday morning when a Filipino military ship opened fire on a Taiwan fishing boat in a sea area some 180 nautical miles southeast of Taiwan's southernmost tip.

(Xinhua News Agency May 9, 2013)