PNoy’s choice as envoy to China is a member of Taiwan’s Koumintang Party

It’s not too late for President Aquino to recall the appointment of Domingo Y. Lee as ambassador to the People’s Republic of China. Lee’s Taiwan connection is so well-entrenched, it will complicate further the Philippine’s delicate relations with one of the world’s superpowers. A reliable source in the Chinese community said he knows that Lee, in his 70’s “is a card-carrying member of the Koumintang.” He said he is not sure if he has resigned but what he understood of the party affiliation is that it’s a “lifetime commitment.” Koumintang is the political party of the Republic of China. Online history accounts said it was founded by Song Jiaoren and Sun Yat-sen shortly after the Xinhai Revolution, also known as the Revolution of 1911 or the Chinese Revolution which ousted Emperor Puyi on February 12, 1912. Led by Chiang Kai-shek, the Koumintang ruled much of China from 1928 until its retreat to Taiwan in 1949 after being defeated by the Communist Party of China (CPC) during the Chinese Civil War. China requires a One-China policy in its relations with other countries: the recognition of the PROC, with its seat of government in Beijing, as the sole government of China. It considers Taiwan its province. The Philippines adheres to the One-China policy but maintains a people-to-people relations with Taiwan, host to an estimated 80,000 Filipino workers. Sources said documents submitted to the DFA showed that the affiliation of Lee’s family with the Koumintang Party goes back to his grandfather. Lee was head of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei, the de facto embassy of the Philippines in Taiwan during the administration of Cory Aquino. In the book “Cory, an intimate portrait”, a compilation of memories of the late president by people close to her, Lee has a five- paragraph piece which stated his closeness with the Aquino family. Lee wrote: “Ninoy and I were childhood friends in our hometown of Concepcion, Tarlac. His father was my godfather. We grew up and bonded a lot. Ours was a special friendship – a treasure of a lifetime. Indeed, he was more than a friend to me- we grew up like brothers. Naturally, his chosen partner for life was a matter of a special interest to me.” Lee was a member of the business delegation that accompanied Aquino in his first trip to the United States September last year. His business description was “senior adviser, Philippine Savings Bank.” He is listed as a stockholder of Tower Steel Corp. He is also known as owning an alcohol distillery in Tarlac. China will not embarrass Aquino by rejecting Lee. Some China experts even think that China will use Lee as a showcase of their “United Front” policy towards Taiwan which they consider a province of China. But as a Koumintang member, in the conflict between China and the Philippines, whose interest would Lee protect? The appointment of Lee is another case of friendship winning over competence and professionalism. Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario had recommended banker Edward Go. Some members of the Chinese community were batting for flour miller Alfonso Uy. When Del Rosario sensed that the President was not so keen on either Go or Uy, he batted for a career officer. At this time when China is accelerating the intrusions of its warships to the Philippine-claimed islands in the Spratlys, Del Rosario has stressed to the President that it is important that the Philippine ambassador in Beijing is someone who is competent to navigate through the intricacies of international politics while upholding Philippine sovereignty and protecting the interest of the Filipino people. Sources, however, said Eldon Cruz, husband of presidential sister Ballsy Cruz, is the main sponsor of Lee. A source said Aquino’s appointment of Lee as ambassador must have something to do with election contributions. Although Lee is not among the election contributors in the list submitted by Aquino to the Commission on Elections, a source also said that Lee could have taken credit for the ample contributions from the Chinese community when in fact even without him, Chinese businessmen are ‘natural’ election campaign contributors. By now, the Aquino relatives should have realized the folly of their intervention in foreign affairs appointments when they pushed for the retention of a family friend, the inept Alberto Romulo, as foreign secretary. Almost a year was wasted which should have been precious time to re-invigorate DFA and make it an effective arm in governance. It took a crisis in the Middle East to compel Aquino to change the leadership in the foreign affairs department that is in the frontline in the promotion of the country’s interests in the world community. Last week, someone called me up trying to confirm a report that the President was recalling the appointment of Lee from the Commission on Appointments, just like what he did with his earlier nominee to the same post, Francisco Benedicto, who caused a lot of embarrassment in Beijing with his actions at the height of the issue of the execution of Filipino drug mules in China. (Benedicto was actually the appointee of Gloria Arroyo. Aquino re-appointed him to the position upon the recommendation of Romulo.) For the country’s sake, I hope the rumor is true.