Foreign Affairs under President Aquino

The President’s recent actions relating to foreign affairs have boosted the morale of the DFA personnel. The recent nomination of 17 career ambassadors to various posts was unprecedented in the history of DFA. During the annual DFA day event, the President also pointed out that he acted purely on the recommendation of Secretary Albert del Rosario. In fact, he only knew one of the ambassadors personally. Again, that was warmly received by the DFA officials and staff. It also enhanced the credibility of the incumbent secretary because it clearly demonstrated that he had rapport with the President. In my opinion, it bodes well for future foreign policy challenges and opportunities since both the chief executive and the foreign secretary are on the same page.

Unfortunately, this has not yet gone down the line in the Executive Branch. Presumably, once a decision is made on foreign policy, all members of the executive branch should be on the same page. It has not been that way it seems, particularly with the communications group which seems to have a proclivity to put their “foot in their mouth”. Putting together a finely honed messaging system in place still has eluded the Administration up to today. They had better put this right soon if they are to provide clarity and precision to the Administration’s positions. Confused messaging has I think been the major reason why some commentators think the administration, particularly the Palace staff, is a Student Council. 

This is unfortunate because the President and his Cabinet have taken important positions and actions on the issues of the day which have proven correct. The position taken by the current administration on the issue of the South China Sea has been well received. As Secretary del Rosario has pointed out and affirmed by the President, its final resolution must be made multilaterally because of the interlocking interest of the many countries involved and under a rules-based regime not by unilateral interpretation. Clearly, the primacy of international law, particularly the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is the cornerstone on which the Philippines defines and protects its territory and maritime entitlements. The President stated that a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Cooperation is a modality for ensuring “what is ours is ours and with what is disputed, we are willing to work towards joint cooperation”.

Secretary del Rosario has repeatedly stated that the Philippine policy on the South China Sea is “grounded on an unwavering adherence to international law”.

No time for amateur diplomats in Beijing

It is rather unfortunate that at this critical juncture in our relations with an emerging superpower that we do not have an ambassador in Beijing to articulate our position and feel the pulse of the Chinese public and leadership. Sadly, the choice of the President for this very important post gives me cold comfort and fills me with trepidation. I refer to Mr. Domingo Lee who states in his resume that he was an adviser of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office and a member of the Kuomintang Party. That prompted a member of the communications group to state that his Taiwan credentials may even place Lee in a position to enhance China-Taiwan relations. How naïve can you get!!!

The conventional wisdom seems to be that all things being equal, a Filipino-Chinese would be the most acceptable choice for Beijing. But is it really true that Beijing would prefer a Filipino-Chinese as the Philippine’s top diplomat in China? I put this question to the Chinese Foreign Minister back when I was Secretary of Foreign Affairs. He replied that he would prefer a diplomat. Period. I took it to mean that if that diplomat happens to be familiar with Chinese mores and mindset and can speak the language, then all the better. But the key point is his skill as a diplomat and not his ethnicity. I gather that this view remains true today within the Chinese foreign ministry circles. DFA personnel inform me that is the same sentiment expressed by Chinese embassy officials in Manila.

Can we really afford to send an amateur diplomat, Filipino-Chinese though he may be, for “On the Job Training” in Beijing? The presumptive ambassador, Mr. Domingo Lee, I understand is very close to the President’s family. There are many precedents for appointing such persons to diplomatic postings to reward them for their support and friendship so this normally does not raise eyebrows. And they have worked out for the most part. But for such an important post as Beijing, I think this is a gamble we cannot afford to make at this time.

We have a raft of issues with China – now the world’s second largest economy – that need to be dealt with astutely but with great tact and understanding. Any misstep, any miscalculation and miscommunication have the potential to damage our bilateral relations and do harm to our national interest. Such astuteness is not inborn but developed through years of experience in the practice of diplomacy. This is why most countries send their most experienced senior diplomat to Beijing. This is not the time to send an amateur diplomat!

As a former Secretary of Foreign Affairs, I believe Mr. Lee’s appointment is inappropriate during these challenging times in our bilateral relations. If I were in the Commission on Appointments, I would share my trepidation about appointing him as our next Ambassador to Beijing. I have nothing personal against Mr. Lee. He has many qualities that are best suited for other posts – but not China. I also believe I echo the sentiments of DFA career staff, both current and retired. The paramount interests of the nation are at stake.