Palace defends Lee's new post

MANILA, Philippines - Two special envoys to China were named to mend relations over the Panatag Shoal dispute, Malacañang said yesterday.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the Philippines was not confined to a single level of relationship with China.

“We have different levels of exchanges or rather relations with China,” he said. “We’re not only confined to a situation that is very prominent right now, which is the Panatag Shoal standoff.”

Lacierda said the Philippines has several levels of relationship with China and that these are the levels that the government is emphasizing.

“As you see, we have the cultural, we have business and we have tourism,” he said.

Lacierda said China is a vast country and the Philippines needs special envoys in the absence of an ambassador as President Aquino looks for one.

“Designating an ambassador would take some time, and an appointee must undergo confirmation before the Commission on Appointments (CA),” he said.

Lacierda said Aquino named businessman Domingo Lee special envoy to China to get the support of the Filipino business community and the Filipino-Chinese community, as well as to persuade a greater number of Chinese tourists to come to the Philippines.

Cesar Zalamea, known to have extensive contacts in China, was appointed special envoy to actively seek out Chinese investors, he added.

Lacierda said around 800,000 Filipino tourists go to China and 200,000 Chinese tourists visit the Philippines.

“We would like to explore all avenues of our relationship not only to focus on the contentious one,” he said.

“And as we’ve always stated, we believe that insofar as the Panatag Shoal standoff is concerned, we are actively seeking a peaceful resolution.”

Lacierda said Lee was named special envoy to China despite failure to hurdle the CA as ambassador to China because he is capable.

“He’s not only involved in luring Chinese tourists to the country but also to promote culture and arts,” he said.

“And I think these are matters which we believe Honorable Domingo Lee can effectively do.”

Lee’s Taiwanese ties is not relevant and Lee had been to China a number of times already, Lacierda said.

Osmeña: Can Lee spell?

Sen. Sergio Osmeña III wants to know if Lee can spell “Scarborough Shoal.”

“I leave that to the judgment of P-Noy (President Aquino),” he said. “You are aware of my own opinion of the fitness and competence of Mr. Lee.”

Osmeña had repeatedly questioned Lee’s qualifications during his confirmation hearings as ambassador to China at the CA.

The post of special envoy to China does not need to undergo CA confirmation, Osmeña said. – With Christina Mendez