Estrada starts 5-day Beijing visit

BEIJING (Via PLDT) -- President Estrada arrived here yesterday and immediately buckled down to work, meeting with Chinese President Jiang Zemin mainly to discuss the potentially explosive territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

Although Mr. Estrada's official agenda focused on trade and investment, Foreign Affairs Secretary Domingo Siazon Jr. said the most important document that was signed yesterday related to the Spratlys flashpoint and the one-China policy.

"This is the most important document to be signed related to the comprehensive framework which lays down the basic principles of Philippine-China relations, such as good neighborliness, respect for international law, principle of settlement of dispute, one-China policy and other agreements," he said.

The document, called Framework of Cooperation in the 21st Century, was signed by Siazon and his Chinese counterpart, Tiang Jiaxuan. The signing was witnessed by Mr. Estrada and Jiang.

"The two sides commit themselves to the maintenance of peace and stability in the South China Sea," their joint statement read.

"They agree to promote a peaceful settlement of disputes through bilateral friendly consultations and negotiation in accordance with the universally-recognized principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS)," it added.

China had refused to recognize the UNCLOS, which the Philippines had been invoking since the start of the Spratlys dispute.

The two countries also reaffirmed their adherence to a 1995 pact on the South China Sea and agreed not to take action that might complicate or escalate the situation in the area.

"The two sides expressed their determination to follow through the work of the Philippines-China Working Group on Confidence-Building Measures to enhance peace and stability in the region," the joint statement said.

"They reiterate that they will contribute positively toward the formation and adoption of the Regional Code of Conduct in the South China Sea," it added.

The Philippine government also reaffirmed its one-China policy and recognized Taiwan as an integral part of the Chinese territory.

Siazon and Tiang also signed an agreement on scientific and technological cooperation as well as a program on culture.

Besides these, memorandums on understanding were inked by Philippine and Chinese officials regarding agriculture.

Meanwhile, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Miguel Varela said many joint venture proposals were also expected to be finalized yesterday.

Among the financial agreements being planned is the establishment of a Bank of China branch in the Philippines and the setting up of a branch of one Philippine bank in China, officials said.

In a related development, Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assured Mr. Estrada that he can trust her while he is on a five-day state visit.

Arroyo, who co-chairs a caretaker committee with Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora, said she will not sign or issue her own orders while the President is away.

"As co-chair of the committee, the President authorized me to act only on his behalf. So that's what I'd be doing. That means I would only do things upon his approval," she told the Manila Overseas Press Club over the weekend.

She said she would be in constant touch with the Chief Executive.

"We can easily talk over the phone. Consultation is no problem between us," Arroyo said.

While Arroyo made such assurances, her partymates at the opposition Lakas-NUCD said the President should have not left the country while there is an ongoing military campaign in Mindanao.

Lakas spokesman Hernando Perez said Mr. Estrada should have reconsidered his travel to China to prove that he was serious in resolving the conflict.

"In times like this, he should have sought for an excuse ... the conflict in the South should be attended to," he said.

In a related development, Sen. Renato Cayetano expressed hopes that nothing untoward befalls the country during Mr. Estrada's absence.

Cayetano, who is also a member of Lakas, issued the statement after the President had ignored the minority's call to defer the state visit because of the Mindanao problem.

"Former President Fidel Ramos was out of the country when the Flor Contemplacion issue erupted. He was blamed for it and that constituted the lowest ebb of his administration. Two Cabinet members had to leave because of the Contemplacion issue -- foreign Affairs Secretary Robert Romulo and Labor Secretary Nieves Confesor," he said.

He said he feared that the President would not be taken kindly by the populace should something that could generate strong national sentiment take place while the Chief Executive is in China.

Cayetano said he is keeping his fingers crossed that no similar untoward incident would take place during Mr. Estrada's absence.

"There is no substitute for actual presence in deciding vital matters, despite inroads in communications," he said.

Senate Minority Leader Teofisto Guingona also regretted that the President left without seeing to it that the Mindanao crisis is nearing solution.

"Tele-conferencing when one is abroad does not make for effective instructions or negotiations," he said.

He charged that the President exhibited a "cavalier attitude" to the problem in Mindanao by proceeding with his trip to China.

On the other hand, Sen. Gregorio Honasan defended the President's trip, saying it would show to the world that the government is on top of the situation in the South.

Senate Majority Leader Francisco Tatad also said it is very difficult to arrange another state visit to China so the trip should proceed as scheduled. -- Paolo Romero, Liberty Dones, Efren Danao, PNA