It doesn’t matter at all if Domingo Lee was not familiar with the terms “hard power” and “soft power” and other common terms in diplomacy during the Commission on Appointments deliberation on his appointment as ambassador to the People’s Republic of China.
He will be the Filipino people’s representative to China because President Aquino wants it.
The 77-year old Lee is the childhood friend of the President’s father, the late Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr.
In a lunch meeting with Lee last Monday, he related how he got to be chosen as ambassador to China after the disastrous stint of former Ambassador Francisco Benedicto, Gloria Arroyo’s appointee but was retained by Aquino upon the recommendation by former Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo.
Lee said he never asked for the position. It was Aquino who told him early this year, “Tito, I want you to be posted in Beijing.”
Although surprised, Lee said he did not decline the offer. He said, he asked Aquino, “Are you sure? With your blessing, I will be willing to serve the country.”
Lee said he was aware that there were other Fil-Chinese businessmen who were being recommended for the position like banker Edward Go and flour miller Alfonso Uy.
There is no lack of active senior career diplomats, even retirees who can be sent to Beijing as political appointee, but Aquino has made known his preference to have a political appointee in Washington D.C. (Jose Cuisia) and Beijing.
Lee said last May 18, Aquino told him,”Tito, maraming nagalit sa akin because I appointed you to Beijing.” He was instructed to prepare his papers for the Commission on Appointments.
Despite his embarrassing performance at the CA hearing, Lee insists he is qualified for the job and has something to offer more than the career diplomats. He said he speaks Mandarin, he knows top Chinese officials and the most important, he has “the trust and confidence of the President” and has direct access to him.
Of course, being able to speak Mandarin is an asset for a diplomat in China but what is important is for you to know what to say.
As to being friends with Chinese officials, one has to remember that Chinese officials will work for the interest of China. There will be occasions when the interest of China would conflict with the interest of the Philippines. There is no doubt that the Chinese will use that friendship to pursue their interest. The Philippine ambassador should have a clear idea what is Philippine interest.
It is needless to say that whoever is sent to China should have the trust and confidence of the President. As to direct access, is Lee saying that he will be bypassing the Department of Foreign Affairs in his dealings with China? Does it mean Malacañang and Lee would be conducting a separate foreign relations with China? That would be a foreign relations nightmare.
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If you read a flurry of media items endorsing Lee as the best man for the China post, don’t be surprised because he is on a public relations campaign. Dante Ang said he is helping him pro-bono because he knows Lee’s family very well. He is close to the son.
At the CA hearing, Joem Macaspac (I knew him to be a journalist because we covered Malacanang together during the Ramos presidency but I don’t know if he is still a practicing journalist) was telling a foreign service officer that he is helping Lee in public relations and he has, in fact, already talked with Sen. Serge Osmeña.
Apparently, Macaspac’s talk with Osmeña didn’t work because the latter gave Lee a hard time during the hearing.
Publicus’ Malou Tiquia said she had one meeting with Lee and gave him some suggestions but she has not officially taken him in as a client.
***
By the way, Lee said he is not bringing Pete Prado,former Transportation and Communications Secretary during the Cory Aquino administration, to Beijing to be part of his staff.
Why can’t the President trust career officers?
Another detour on the straight and narrowing path.
Lahat ng nag-aral sa Chinese school (Xavier, Chiang Kai Shek, etc.) marunong mag-Mandarin. Hindi unique yan sa mga Chino. Ang hindi lang marunong ay yung nag-Ateneo or La Salle. Sa Chinese school, yung morning session is usually English, yung afternoon, Chinese, where you learn both Fookien and Mandarin.
Ang nipis naman ng qualification kung Mandarin language skills lang. Libo ang mga Chinong marunong mag-Mandarin.
This is where you part company with your lawyer Ellen. Si Harry Roque is in favor of Domingo Lee. Roque’s gushing recommendation is as follows:
1) Mandarin language skills, 2) age, 3) business skills, 4) Chinese-Filipino community ties, 5) roots traceable to China.
Teka muna. Sino bang matandang Chino ang wala niyan?
baka naman gustong ipalit si Domingo Lee sa mga Pinoy OFWs.
OPLAN Put Lee in place of death row “drug mules”
Harry is the lawyer of Domingo Lee. (He should have disclosed that in his article.)
He was the one who arranged the lunch meeting with Lee. Ako naman, I’m open to listening to all sides.
This is not the first time that Harry and I take different position on a certain issue. We respect each other’s right to choose positions and express our views.
Click here for Harry Roque’s piece “Lee will make a great envoy”: http://harryroque.com/
From a diplomat-friend:
“About that ‘direct access’ thing, that can be played against us by China too. They can bypass channels by exploiting the direct access capability of the ambassador, thereby short-circuiting those who are in a position to provide proper inputs for a better decision. If that happens, commitments might be made without the benefit of proper analysis.”
Re # 7:In fact, that has already happened.
Prior to PNoy’s state visit to China in September, a middle-ranking official came in connection with the preparation for the visit. DFA did not recommend audience with the President because he was too low-ranking for a meeting with the President.
There’s a policy that only officials in the top three positions (state or foreign minister, deputy foreign minister, and the next position) would be recommended an audience with the President.
This is a sensible policy or else every visiting Tom, Dick and Harry would want an audience with the president. Of course, exceptions can be made.
The Chinese ambassador went to Lee and the latter brought him to Malacanang and he met with the President.
Expect more of the same when Lee assumes his post in Beijing.
I think China prefers Lee for trust reasons, they may look at career diplomats as state spies of US coopted/biased/oriented, etc. The balancing act between US and China relations will force a compromise, Roque definitely knows this but is too professional to elaborate.
I think that one of the more relevant aspects the senators should be looking into the qualifications of Domingo Lee is how patriotic was he in his past actions/records as a government official and as a businessman rather than how close he is to the president. Has Domingo Lee the heart to espouse the good interests of his country the Philippines over that of his own personal interests, or the interests of the country he is currently posted? Has President Aquino this consideration in trusting the man to hold such important position? My 2-cents.
My two cents, maybe China thinks Lee is not smart enough to be a spy? 🙂
#12. jug, exactly why China likes Lee, pwede nilang maisahan si Pnoy as they wished. 🙂
What Pnoy wants, he gets. What is he in power for? Nasa kay Noynoy ang pasya, Domingo Lee it is. Yey!
Bakit hindi si Juan de la Cruz o si Pedro Penduko kaya ang gawing envoy? Bakit kailangang chinoy? Tignan niyo na lang kung magsalita ….. mukhang kumunista itong taong ito. Parang hindi nakapag-aral. Mayaman lang siguro at marunong mag-intsik. Dehins na nakapagtataka dahil pati pangulo niyo ay chinoy at ang mga hari sa mga malalaking bangko at di lang yan yong pinakamayayaman na tao sa inyong bansang Pilipinas ay puro chinoy at pati na rin yong mga drug at gambling lords ay chinoy ……
Yon nga lang talo naman ang mga chinoy sa korapsiyon kanyat ang kasabihan ng mga ito ay ….. sa amin na ang mga bangko at malalaking kompanya ninyo at babalatuhan na lang namin kayo …. di ba yan ang katotohanan? Puweee ….
Agree with #3. Lucio Tan and his sons qualifies too if those were the basis. Ganun din si Henry Sy.
Lee’s ability is not unique. If Harry’s qualifications were to be the basis, Tancaktiong of Jollibee has better choice.
I was gonna give Domingo Lee a chance but that was before him being crushed by the Senate in his appointment meeting.
Add that with his supposedly Kamaganak, Inc. connection in getting the appointment.
If i were Lee, i can best serve the nation in other ways, and personally request my appointment be recalled.
But then again, Chinoys also have this thing called pride. Maganda na maging Ambassador maski paano. Very rare yung lowkey, especially yung older generations.
There is no shame never to be called an Ambassador but to know that you helped in your own way, without the acknowledgement.
I also think there are career employees who are qualified too. But that is another story.
is he 101 percent Filipino by heart just like Gen. Lim?
There goes our claim on West Philippine Sea. Si Tito Bert, Si Tito Domeng, at kung sino pang Tito ni Pnoy ang appointed. Dang meron nang KKK meron pang TTT? Mr. Lee has been unmasked during the CA Session with Sen. Osmena. Mr Lee’s interest is for himself, China, his relatives, then maybe, just maybe, The Philippines. If he has the right connections and relationship with top guys in the Chinese Politburo, then why was he not asked by Nephew PNoy to seek leniency for the Filipino drug mules sentenced to die? Why send VP Binay, if we have a certain Tito Domeng who is good friends with people at the top in China? I do not condone drug traffickers, but, this could be an exercise, in which Mr Lee can claim, that he indeed, has great relations with Chinese Top Brass. Can Mr Lee asked his friends to amend the 9-dash line China has drawn?
I would recommend an interview with the Chinese Chamber of Commerce.
There is a Chino businessman whose name is mentioned with reverential awe, because of his qualities; a successful businessman, ethical, urbane, well-educated, and a damn good raconteur (makuwento) – a quality well-recommended for a diplomat. His name is Washington Sycip. Matanda na nga lang, maybe already in his mid 80s. But I mention his name as an example of a Fil-Chino who commands respect, and who will be a source of national pride if deployed abroad. He is also unquestionably Filipino, like the old guard among the Chinos (mga apo ni Mamonluk na kilala ko).
I’m sure marami pang ganyan.
Another gauge of the qualifications of Domingo Lee is the action or lack thereof, of Cory. Did she appoint him to any portfolio? No. Saling pusa lang, pampalubag loob dahil kaibigan ng yumaong asawa.
Gawin na lang kasing Ambassador-at-large, katulad ng gawa ni Macoy kay Danding. That way, you honor the ties with your late father, while doing what is best for the country.
Ang babao naman ng bench ni Noy; that reflects on the country, because the President’s bench is the Filipino bench.
Ellen:
May problema ang blog mo. We have to log in to view comments. I have to wait some time (15 minutes) after logging in, before the comments are available. And it is not my computer, because I have just reinstalled everything (windows operating system, etc.).
This may diminish readership, which is the power of this blog – its popularity. Kung article mo lang, kita naman yan sa Malaya. I get additional info from posts here, which adds context to your articles. Mayroon ding confidential info share by some.
Ngayon ko lang napanood, because I usually prefer text (transcripts) dahil puwedeng mag-skip.
Damn. It is so painful to watch. The fellow is incoherent; and not because of English language skills (they are passable), but because of sheer lack of knowledge.
Teka. Pinagmamalaki yung Mandarin skills. Has anybody spoken to him in Mandarin? Baka pati yan pulpol. Wala bang Senate or House staff na aral sa Xavier or Chiang Kai Shek? How about speaking to this guy in Mandarin?
Sinong nag-recommend? Alberto Romulo? The blind leading the blind;
the incompetent recommending another incompetent
(to an incompetent appointing power daw sabi ng kaopisina kong maka-Tribune).
SnV, he is the choice of PNoy himself. Alberto Romulo had nothing to do with Lee.
Up to now, PNoy’s trust and confidence in Lee have remained unshaken. He has asked someone close to both the Aquinos and Osmeñas to talk to Serge Osmeña.
Serge Osmeña remains equally unshaken in his belief that posting Lee to China is not in the national interest.
Lee believes all the unfavorable commentaries about him are the handiwork of Lucio Tan. But Harry was quick to say during our lunch meeting that I’m not included among those they believe were paid hacks of Lucio Tan.
They believe there’s no problem with him (Lee). It’s a matter of managing media to ease the burden on PNoy.That’s why they are getting a PR expert to help him.
I think it boils down to PNoy not really appreciating diplomacy as tool for governance.
May problema ang blog mo. We have to log in to view comments.-SNV
Oo nga e. I will consult my IT friend.
From a diplomat who is in active service:
Watched the diplomacy 101 with Domingo Lee video.
From the point of view of a 30-year veteran in the diplomatic service, that was just painful to watch. After all that very public bungling, I don’t know what sort of credibility he has to show should he, by some cosmic aberration, be confirmed.
From another diplomat in active service:
“Deer in headlights. Painful to watch. Agonizing to witness. Somebody put him out of his and our misery”.
Re #21, SNV, someone in the Chinese community acknowledged that Lee’s Mandarin is good. Which is not really unique among a number of Filipino-Chinese.
You usually put the best people abroad, because they are the face of the nation abroad.
Ito, para mong pinadala si Menggay to the Miss Universe pageant.
And about seniority, a quality lauded by Harry Roque. The Chinese value seniority, if accompanied by competence. I worked in Chinatown, NY, and the youth respect an old man if he is competent in his craft – whether tai chi, or calligraphy, or acupuncture. If he is not competent, he is just a pitiful old man, accorded the respect of old people, not the respect of an old master, like old acupuncture masters, or old tai chi masters. He is actually relegated to the background, when matters of substance (about the art or science he is supposed to be competent in) are discussed.
Whether Pinoy or Chino, walang nakikinig sa tanga. At lalong kaawa-awa yung matandang tanga, na dapat ay madunong.
Diplomats are extremely skilled people, very well versed both in language and political science. Just the mere fact of presenting Domingo Lee to the CA hearing is a total mistake. A diplomat is supposed to represent the intelligence of a nation to ensure negotiations between two countries.
If you cannot even present one argument correctly, be it in English, if you have no experience aside from honorary positions, if you cannot even understand the main geographic brawls between these two nations without being handed a note, if you cannot identify the relevance of the said notes being handed to you, if you cannot even speak English – and yes, I say English, because diplomats should be fluent in several languages, English being the bare minimum – then what are you doing there?
I guess for some, requirements and expectations are so low that it became normal for ignorance to represent our voice. There must be some kind of enjoyment to be the laughing stock of the international diplomatic scene.
Lastly, why send a guy to the People’s Republic of China who has had very close political and business affiliations with Taiwan? Is it to show our blatant ignorance to their face?
Hi Ellen. I am a newbie.
Hindi ko lubos maisip na isang Domingo Lee lang ang ilalagay sa ganitong posisyon. He cannot even speak well. S#@t! I took a Foreign Service Exam way back 2001, isang buong araw na examination at mahabang preparation before the exam and to my surprise yung mga kasamahan kong nag eexam karamihan ay matagal nang nag eexam pero laging bagsak. May 11 times ng nag eexam, 8 times. Sobrang hirap ng examination para lang pumasa sa 2nd examination and screening. Halos lahat ng nakausap ko professional na at alam kong may talino talaga pero bumabagsak pa din sa exam tapos itong si Domingo Lee na obvious namang bobo ay magiging Ambassador?!!!!!
Bumagsak ako sa exam at 72% lang ako na malayo sa 85% na passing score pero P!!!ng I#@, hindi ako kasing bobo nitong si Domingo Lee or yung mga nakasabay kong mag-exam.
Geez, never in my entire life and career that I have met such an ignorant government employee (if we may consider him as one). Being an Ambassador is such a critical position and to China pa?! Come on! Pnoy must be kidding or out of his mind.
Hindi lang ang abilidad na makapagsalita ng Mandarin ang dapat maging basehan at qualification ng pagiging ambassador sa China. This is scary. My 3 year old son can speak Mandarin, can he be the Ambassador to China? Nakakapag-init ng ulo!!!
China has been bullying us a lot lately and we cannot, in any way afford to appoint Domingo Lee as the Ambassador for China. Appointing him as an ambassador would only mean trouble and complications.
Shanginamels! Pustahan maski spelling exam eh babagsak itong si Domingo Lee. Ampoots naman talaga. In my own simple way, pinipilit kong itaas ang tingin ng ibang lahi sa ating mga Filipino. It is a day to day battle. Maraming Filipino ang nagsasakripisyo at nagtatyaga para paunlarin at itaas ang respeto sa ating lahi. Ngunit ang mga appointments na ganito ang nakasisira. Masakit mang tanggapin na napakahina ng ating bansa, we can’t even protect our people from abuse lalo na ang ating mga OFW or even protecting our sovereignty kaya huwag na sanang palalain pa ng ganitong mga pangyayari.
Trish, all I can say is “Amen”.