Career diplomat gets China post

 MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has named a veteran career diplomat as ambassador to China amid the tense territorial row between Manila and Beijing over Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, which has also affected tourism and trade relations.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte yesterday said the Office of the Executive Secretary has transmitted the nomination and designation letter for Ambassador Sonia Brady subject to confirmation by the Commission on Appointments.

The President had decided not to reappoint family friend and businessman Domingo Lee, who withdrew his nomination to the post after Congress refused to approve his appointment.

Valte said Brady would have concurrent jurisdiction over North Korea and Mongolia.

Brady, 70, had served as ambassador to China from April 2006 to January 2010. She is known at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) as a very “circumspect” diplomat, especially when she was undersecretary for policy and experienced in Asian affairs.

She was also ambassador to Thailand from 2002 to 2003; Myanmar from 1995 to 1999; deputy chief of mission to Indonesia from 1994 to 1995; deputy chief of mission to Thailand from 1992 to 1994; third secretary and vice consul and then second secretary and consul at the Philippine embassy in Beijing from 1976 to 1978.

She served as DFA undersecretary for policy from July 2003 to 2006; special assistant, then assistant secretary to the Office of the Secretary for Policy and Coordination 1999 to 2002; director for Office of Asia and the Pacific from 1988 to 1992; assistant, then principal assistant to the Office of Political Affairs from 1968 to 1976.

Valte said Brady was one of those who prepared for the state visit of Aquino to China last year and was also part of the delegation.

Brady earned her Master of Arts in International Relations from the University of Southern California, Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from the University of the Philippines and her undergraduate degree was Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Santo Tomas.

Earlier, the President appointed Lee and Cesar Zalamea as special envoys to China. Lee will seek more tourists from China while Zalamea will deal with prospective investors.

DFA Secretary Albert del Rosario recommended Brady to the President.

Brady was named to her old post amid a growing clamor for a skilled diplomat to handle the frayed ties caused by the territorial dispute.

Aquino wanted “someone who is already familiar with the politics and the culture of that country. That person can hit the ground running,” Valte.

However, Brady cannot assume her post until Congress approves her appointment.

Relations between the two countries worsened after Chinese ships blocked Philippine vessels from arresting Chinese fishermen caught illegally harvesting giant clams, corals and other marine species in the Panatag Shoal area of the west Philippine Sea (South China Sea) in April.

Both countries have deployed vessels near the disputed shoal for more than a month to press their conflicting claims to the area.

China claims the shoal along with most of the West Philippine Sea, even up to the coasts of its Asian neighbors, while the Philippines claims the shoal as being well within its 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone.

Since then, China has impounded Philippine fruit shipments and warned tourists against visiting the Philippines, while Manila has charged that Beijing is sending even more ships to the shoal.

The Philippines, which has one of the weakest militaries in the region, has turned to its main defense ally, the United States, for support.

Aquino is due to meet with US President Barack Obama in the White House in June.

“This is no way in connection with the standoff (with China),” Valte said, referring to the Whit House meeting.

The US visit of Aquino had been planned since US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton extended the invitation during a visit to the Philippines in November, she added. – With Pia Lee-Brago