Click here Lee’s koumintang membership : China expert Aileen Baviera mentioned Lee’s Koumintang membership in her book.
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 Kuomintang.” 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.”
Kuomintang 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 Kuomintang 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.
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 Kuomintang 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 Kuomintang 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 could 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.
“A source said Aquino’s appointment of Lee as ambassador could 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 ample contributions from the Chinese community when in fact without him, Chinese businessmen are ‘natural’ election campaign contributors.”
Payback time again.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said: “For every appointment that is made by the President, we always say that it is based on the trust, competence, and capability of the appointee.
Nagpapatawa itong si Valte.
More from Valte on Domingo Lee:
“We would not wish to question the President’s judgment on this. He is the appointing power. He is the one who sees what is not commonly known (to others). It’s the President who really sees the broad spectrum of things and given that point of view, he is in the position to say who is worthy to be appointed in that particular position,” Valte explained.
http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110605hed4.html
On the contrary, Lee’s appointment is not a result of his seeing in “the broad spectrum of things” but on the narrow view of kaibigan, kamag-anak and as Ellen said, election contributions.
Pnoy is not appointing relatives in positons of power, all friends of the family backed up by relatives naman. Sus ginoo!
“For every appointment that is made by the President, we always say that it is based on the trust, competence, and capability of the appointee”. – Valte
Nahihibang din ang babaeng ito!
Bert Romulo, Puno, Diokno, Torres, Mislang, and now Lee are all appointed based on only one criteria…well connected to Pnoy!
Talaga naman. Sus ginoo gid.
As long as the people appointed by the president is well qualified and not corrupt–it shouldn’t be a problem.
I suppose “well qualified” includes competence.
Competence is one of the issues raised in the appointment of Domingo Lee.
Ganun pala kadali upang mapasama sa gabinete ni PNoy, ha? Sasama ka lang sa target shooting, konting bola kay Ab, este PNoy (pala) kahit wala kang credentials puwede na.
Pero ako, gusto ko ring sumama sa kanilang target shooting hindi para mapansin o i-appoint ni PNoy kundi upang targetin ang mga ulo nilang puro abo ang laman.
Mga butsettttt!
I think the issue would be clearer if we had an interview with Mr. Lee himself. Only he can explain his Koumintang ties, or show to us his qualifications for this very important post.
Dapat naman sana huwag lang ‘yung utang ng loob na ‘yan ang pagbatayan sa pagtatalaga ng tao sa anumang posisyon sa gobyerno. Hindi naman importante kung ‘yan ay standing o sitting position basta mahusay at maganda ang mga qualitification ng isang tao.
Ang nangyayari ‘ata ay base sa impotence ng appointing authorization.
Tatlo lang ang criteria para maupo sa gabinete ni Pnoy: 1)Shooting buddy (or school buddy), 2)Ex-cabinet at friend ng nanay, and 3) rekomendado ng kamag-anak.
“For every appointment that is made by the President, we always say that it is based on the trust, competence, and capability of the appointee”. – Valte
Okey, tama na. Alam na namin.
Eto naman ang aming nakikita sa ginagawang pagtatalaga ng gabinete:
“TRUST” – para hindi kumalat ang kabalbalan ninyo.
COMPETENCE (?) KUPITENCE – para mabundat ang inyong mga kaalyado.
CAP(IT)ABILITY – sa mga kamag-anak ng nakaupong nauutong pangulo.
Suskupunaman!
Is it only during election time that we see HOPE sa mga promises ng mga pulitiko subalit kapag nanalo at nangakaupo na sila ay katulad din ng mga pinalitan sa pag-abuso sa ating pagtitiwala?
Maige pa si James Yap hindi lang natanaw ang HOPE, napasakanya pa. Kaya naman tingnan ninyo, isa na siya sa mga sikat na palaos ng basketbolista!
If Lee is a member of Kuomintang..more likely he is not qualified with his loyalty in question. Being Kuomintang more likely he is not a true pinoy in ideals. Ideals cnu be sa gobyerno ang meron nito???
Ipinaglandakan ng Malacañang ang support of FFCCCII of Lee as ambassador to China.
Since when was the endorsement of FFCCCII a main consideration in the choice of ambassador to China?
http://www.malaya.com.ph/june07/news8.html
http://www.malaya.com.ph/june07/news8.html
FFCCCII backs Lee as envoy to China
By Regina Bengco
THE Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) yesterday expressed support for the appointment of Domingo Lee as Philippine ambassador to China, despite apprehensions that his Taiwanese connections could complicate relations with mainland China.
Lee is one of the eight honorary presidents of the FFCCCII, the biggest of four groups within the Filipino-Chinese community. The officials of the Federation took their oath before President Aquino Monday morning.
Tan Ching, FFCCCII president, in his opening statement said the Federation is happy to learn about Lee’s appointment, which he said will greatly improve relations with China. “The Filipino-Chinese community supports your appointment of Mr. Lee,” Ching said, citing Lee’s “strong diplomatic background” as well as his deep Filipino roots.
He also expressed the FFCCCII’s support for the passage of the Palace-backed Reproductive Health bill and the government’s population program, which is reaping criticisms from the Catholic Church.
The FFCCCII officers also presented Aquino a scale model of the 454 units of two-classroom school buildings (or 908 classrooms) which they will construct for public school students in two years.
Reports said Lee, who headed the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taipei during the administration of Corazon Aquino, is a card-carrying member of the Kuomintang party.
MECO is Manila’s de facto embassy in Taiwan. The Philippines adheres to the One-China policy.
Sources have said Eldon Cruz, husband of presidential sister Ballsy Cruz, is Lee’s main sponsor.
Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Secretary Ramon Carandang said Malacañang does not see any conflict with China because of Lee’s stint in Taiwan.
“We don’t anticipate that it would be an issue that he was in Taiwan. There is international precedent for diplomats posted in Taiwan and being assigned later to Beijing,” he said.
President Aquino, in his speech after the FFCCCII oath taking, thanked the Federation for supporting his campaigns, including the RH bill and the school buildings program. He asked for more help from the Federation, saying government still needs to construct 11,926 more classrooms.
“We all know you are not required to do these things. Many of you can afford to just sit back and watch your businesses go from success to success. But you have remained aware of your moral obligations to your respective communities, and have constantly given back… I am grateful that you have continued this long-standing and historic tradition of heroism,” he said.
He also said government is doing its best to improve the business environment and the services that it is supposed to deliver.
Payback appointment itong si Domingo Lee. Someone told me he was active in raising funds for PNoy campaign. Yes, he worked closely with Eldon Cruz.
Baka gusto nilang ituloy ang partnership with business deals with Chinese firms.
Re #15. Alangan ba naman mag-oppose ang FFCCII, presidential appointment yan.
Alam mo naman ang mga Chinese businessmen, magaling yan sumisip.
You are right Ellen. I talked with friends in the DFA. That’s also their question. They don’t know of any instance when the FFCCII was ever asked about appointment of ambassador to China.
Nagkakaroon ng connection ‘yung post ko sa kabila. Bukas makalawa ay magigising na la’ang tayo na ang Pilipinas ay pag-aari na ng Tsina. Ang mas nakararaming namumuhunang negosyante at nagmamay-ari ng malalawak na lupain ay mga Insik tapos ang gagawin pang embahador ay may lahing Insik na kabilang pa sa mga nagsasayaw ng kumintang, aba’y huwag na tayong magtaka.
So Ellen, is it Lee or not? I didn’t like his CV but maybe that’s me. I hope he won’t sell out Pinas. Otherwise, lechon kawali siya!
“Since when was the endorsement of FFCCCII a main consideration in the choice of ambassador to China?”
i think it’s a big deal. it means he’s vetted by the fil-chi community as a worthy representative.
Will China even receive Mr. Lee as our ambassador? Is PNoy trying to cut ties with Red China? Appointing a card carrying member of the Koumintang, if it is true, is detrimental to the interest of the country. The reds still control China even though it may seem that they have adapted free enterprise. They are still communist.
Yes, they will. As far as they are concerned, Lee is affiliated with their province,Taiwan.
The Philippines is sending to China, a member of their province, as ambassador to protect the interests of the Philippines. Isn’t that katawa-tawa?
It’s the Philippines that is making itself a laughing stock of the international community.