There is no word yet if Roxas has accepted the invitation.
Sept. 20 -Secretary del Rosario recommends Secretary Roxas as special envoy to the 9th China-Asean Expo
Read story in comments.
ASEAN leaders expected to attend the Expo include Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra , Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Myanmar President U Thein Sein.
President Aquino is going to Brunei on Sunday to attend the wedding of a daughter of Sultan Bolkiah.
China is being politically astute in inviting Roxas.
The event is a trade-related and the relevant officials would be from the Department of Trade and Industry. Although Roxas is seen more as an economic person, he has just been appointed secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government.
Yet, Roxas is head of the Liberal party, the party of President Aquino. His desire to run for president in 2016 is no secret.
The invitation to Roxas indicates China’s desire to patch up relations with the Philippines severely damaged by the April 2012 confrontation at the Panatag shoal, 124 nautical miles off Zambales.
It also belies the conclusion of armchair Philippine analysts that Chinese President Hu Jintao snobbed Aquino in Vladivostok when the announced meeting in the sidelines of the 24th Asia Pacific meeting didn’t take place. Why would the Chinese leader snub a meeting that they themselves requested?
The reason was plain and simple scheduling problem which was made more complicated by the many other problems that cropped up for China’s Hu.
Hu was more than an hour late for the Sept. 9 Leader’s meeting as he was reportedly busy on the phone because of the earthquake that struck Yunnan province in the southwestern part of China killing some 80 people and damaged thousands of homes and buildings that day.
The delay in the start of the meeting expectedly moved the closing ceremonies to a later time causing complications in the schedule of all the leaders.
The issue between Japan and China is much more serious and urgent than the China-Philippine territorial conflict. A few days before the Vladivostok meeting, the Japanese government bought the three of the four main Senkaku Islands which are also being claimed by China (Diaoyudao in Chinese) from its private owners for $25.5 million. The purchase in effect nationalized the Senkaku issue which angered Beijing.
The China-Japan conflict over Senkaku continues to rage with violent against demonstrations against Japan in 85 cities in China.
The latest news said China is sending 10 of its maritime surveillance vessels to the uninhabited gas-rich Senkaku islands and two have already entered Japanese territorial waters. Some 1,000 fishing vessels have also been reported to have left different Chinese ports bound for Senkaku.
US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta who was visiting Japan Tuesday expressed concern that “provocative behavior” by either side could lead to misjudgments, violence and, potentially, open warfare.
He urged both countries “to find a way to avoid further escalation.”
With so many other fires that China is trying to put out and the impending turn over of leadership from Hu to Xi Jinping (who re-surfaced Saturday after being unseen for two weeks), it is understandable that China would want to repair relations with the Philippines.
A senior Chinese Foreign Ministry official has called the Department of Foreign Affairs to convey the Chinese President’s apology for the one-on-one meeting with Aquino that didn’t push through. Both sides are working on a future informal leaders meeting.
The next opportunity would be at the East Asia summit with dialogue partners in Cambodia on Nov. 15 to 20. It would be Premier Wen Jiabao who would representing China.
Hi Ellen:
I think Japan’s “nationalization” of the Senkaku Islands should be put in proper context. Ultra-nationalist and anti-China Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara (the guy who first informed Cory of Ninoy’s death and whose son stayed with the Aquinos’ Boston home) was trying to buy the islands and put up structures there and allow right-wing activists to land. The Ishihara plan was much more provocative, which is why the Noda government was forced to outbid him. The Chinese government knew this, and had been sending signals that Noda’s plan was acceptable. But obviously, the disappearance of Xi and the conviction of Bo’s wife, among others, gave the CCP some headaches and thought they needed a distraction. Unfortunately, everything is spinning out of control. I’ve written about all these on my blog, and I hope you don’t mind me plugging it: http://thenutbox.wordpress.com/2012/09/16/china-has-unleashed-a-mad-genie/
With the current China-Japan conflict, who needs more enemy?
“China is being politically astute in inviting Roxas.” Talaga! Hindi kaya matakot si Roxas na dumalo dyan, baka sya mapitpit. 🙂
Chi, mas gusto ng China kay Roxas kaysa kay Pnoy kasi mas makapal buhok ni Roxas. Hehehehe 😛
Word war sparks between Trillanes, Enrile
http://www.philstar.com/nation/article.aspx?publicationsubcategoryid=63&articleid=850612
There is the related news about Trillanes talking to the Chinese. Some say he is the back door man for the President. But the Inquirer news about Trillanes and Enrile paint a different picture.
newsinfo.inquirer.net/273594/trillanes-bolts-out-of-majority-block-in-senate
newsinfo.inquirer.net/273670/enrile-calls-trillanes-coward-fraud
Now there is this invitation to Mar.
This is the classic “surround the city from the countryside” of Mao. If you want to take the city, better to get the easy pickings first, the towns around it. Once the city is chocked, it will be easy to conquer.
Similarly, the President seems to be pro-US. He has asked for US help, etc. No value judgment on my part here (whether that is good or bad). Just the facts. I don’t want the partisans jumping in again with their strident remarks, either pro-US or pro-Chinese.
So the strategy seems to be, get close to the people around the President, and you may eventually get to the President. That is done in Philippine courtship as well. Try to score with the lady’s gangmates, and they might put in a good word for you.
Sige, labu-labo na sa Senado. Sino pa ba sa mga senador ang may balls na sumalungat kay lolo Juan maliban kay Trillanes?
Coward-fraud daw si Trillanes sabi ni Enrile. Look who’s talking.
Pnoy should clarify if he asked Trillanes to do the China backdoor negotiations, or not.
As far as I know, an elected senator of the republic cannot hold or accept any other position from gov’t. be it permanent or temporary. There are sanctions I think and one of the harsher ones is removal from office.
As far as I know, an elected senator of the republic cannot hold or accept any other position from gov’t. be it permanent or temporary. There are sanctions I think and one of the harsher ones is removal from office.
For me, whatever gravitas Enrile had during Corona’s impeachment trial has vanished. He used (abused) his position to berate a senator whose votes were not bought, by bringing in queries designed to humiliate the junior senator.
Enrile was clearly imperious and angry that someone dared to put his motives in question. He even violated the exclusivity of senate executive sessions.
Between Sen. Trillanes and old man Enrile, I’ll take Trillanes any time.
Mike, kung totoo ay hindi naman “other position” yun kundi back door. 🙂
#9. Akala ni lolo ay kayang-kaya nya ang batang Trillanes. Yan ang gusto ko sa mga batang senador na hindi bumili ng boto, mahirap utuin at pranka kung magsalita. Kung ano nasa loob yun din ang nasa labas.
May dalawang isyu dito. One is Trillanes as back door man daw ni Pnoy sa China negotiation. Two is Enrile’s links daw with Gloria Arroyo. Masaya na naman sa Senado.
Plus Sotto’s “libel” insertion in cybercrime bill approved and signed by the 13 senators and Pnoy without reading the bill.
Si Mar Roxas lang yata tahimik kung pupunta China o hindi.
More fun in Pinas again!
Trillanes wants Enrile unseated
By RG Cruz, www. abs-cbnnews.com
Posted at 09/19/2012 8:06 PM | Updated as of 09/19/2012 11:08 PM
enrile has smell that someone is out to unseat him and he smell trillanes
and the issue was about division of camsur in the plenary, and enrile got irk by the forwardness of trillanes so tinira nya un back door issue against trillanes,which hindi dapat,,out of topic to save his own skin
old political fox is enrile,,,
“Nakakatawag si GMA, solid ang samahan nilang dalawa (ni JPE), nagpapadikta kay GMA. He’s being held by the balls. I don’t know, baka may utang na loob. Bakit mo isasagasa (ang CamSur bill), 4 months ago inakyat itong CamSur bill. Talagang si Senate President, napepressure ni GMA,” Trillanes said.
—
Walang maisagot si Enrile, napikon tinira ang back door issue ng wala sa agenda. Imagine, very strict kuno sa rules ng Senate tapos biglang walang kakonek-konek sa CamSur bill na China issue pinasok ni Enrile to save face. Baka marami ng ‘interes’ ang nasasagasaan ng back door diplomacy/negotiation.
Sorry Ellen sa otc, masyadong silent si Roxas kaya walang mapag-usapan sa kanya ngayon. 🙂
Ang gusto kong malaman ay kung totoo na back door guy ni Pnoy si Trillanes sa China o sariling desisyon/pakialam ni Trillanes ang alleged China back door negotiation.
Cat is out of the bag indeed on Trillianes…An independent minded senator with balls. Right or wrong..i like this guy for a Senator! di katulad ng iba dyan..mga sip sip at mahilig mangopya…they sucks!
Go Senator Trillanes.. un senador con cojones.
DFA press release
Secretary del Rosario recommends Secretary Roxas as special envoy to the 9th China-Asean Expo
20 September 2012 – Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario recommended to President Benigno S. Aquino III to designate Secretary Mar Roxas as his Special Envoy to the 9th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) which will be held from September 21 to 25 in Nanning, China.
CAEXPO, co-sponsored by China and ASEAN, is an international event held annually since 2004 with the objective of promoting the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA). The CAEXPO is an excellent platform for cooperation in the fields of infrastructure investment, trade, and tourism, among others.
The Chinese Government had earlier requested the Philippines to send a high-level delegation to the CAEXPO. China’s Vice President Xi Jinping is attending the CAEXPO.
The President of Myanmar, Prime Ministers of Laos and Vietnam, and the Deputy Prime Ministers of Malaysia and Thailand are expected to attend the CAEXPO.
Secretary del Rosario’s recommendation is based on the Philippines being the Country of Honor in the next year’s CAEXPO. Secretary Edwin Lacierda was likewise recommended by DFA to join the other members of the Philippine delegation to the CAEXPO.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is making arrangements for Secretary Roxas and the Philippine delegation to meet with high-level Chinese officials. END
Press Release of the Presidential Spokesperson on the trip of Secretary Mar Roxas and his delegation to China
Secretary Mar Roxas, President Aquino’s Special Envoy, met with Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping on September 21, 2012. The meeting occurred on the occasion of the 9th China-ASEAN Expo held in Nanning, China.
Vice President Xi expressed appreciation for President Aquino’s decision to send a special envoy. He said, “This showed the importance that President Aquino attaches to Philippines-China relations.”
Roxas said, “We had a frank and candid exchange of views and I am satisfied that I was able to faithfully convey President Aquino’s message.”
Vice President Xi promised to bring President Aquino’s message to the attention of Chinese President Hu Jintao. Vice President Xi also responded to the matters raised in the meeting, which Roxas promised to convey to President Aquino.
The meeting focused on the current outstanding issues between the two countries as well as on the other dimensions of their bilateral relationship. Both the Philippines and China expressed their desire to resolve outstanding issues while moving forward with their bilateral relations.
Roxas added that the “discussions were constructive and the talks were conducted in a cordial atmosphere.”
Joining Roxas in the meeting were Secretary Edwin Lacierda, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Erlinda Basilio and Philippine Embassy Beijing Charge d’Affaires Alex Chua.
Test….
Del Rosario “recommends” Roxas as special envoy? Who’s he fooling?
Is he too scared to step on Chinese soil?
Or are there not enough diplomats in DFA who can do the job? Kunwari lang his own recom to save face?
Wala naman kasing madaming trabaho si Roxas kaya siya na lang? Oh my lawd!
Nirequest ba talaga ng DFA?
O ng China? Aray!
Ang sakit ng pisngi ni Del Rosario.