Domingo Lee at the Senate hearing.
Domingo Lee, to those who have forgotten who he is, was Aquino’s choice as ambassador to China after Gloria Arroyo’s appointed ambassador who was extended by Aquino, Francisco Benedicto, was recalled.
Lee’s primary qualification for one of the most important diplomatic positions was, he was a family friend of the Aquinos. Despite his embarrassing interviews with the Commission on Appointment, Aquino was determined to send him to Beijing.
Until the Scarborough (also known as Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag) standoff happened in April 2012. Lee, himself, asked Aquino that his appointment be recalled.
In his place, Sonia Brady was appointed, who unfortunately, suffered a stroke. She has returned home and is recovering well.
Representing the Philippines in China now is veteran diplomat Erlinda Basilio.
One of the issues raised against Lee while the CA was deliberating on his nomination was his being a member of Taiwan’s Koumintang party, which he never denied.
Kuomintang is the political party of the Republic of China or Taiwan. 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. It is the ruling party in Taiwan.
A reliable source in the Chinese community said the affiliation of Lee’s family with the Kuomintang Party traces 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. It is now headed by Amadeo Perez, Jr.whose background was in Pangasinan local politics.
Almost a week after the Philippine Coast Guard shot and killed a Taiwanese fisherman, 65-year old Hung Shih Chen, in Balintang Channel where the economic exclusive zones of the both the Philippines and Taiwan overlap, Aquino sent Perez to Taiwan with a letter of apology addressed to Taiwan President Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou.
Perez was snubbled by the office of the Taiwan President and the Foreign Minister. He only got to Foreign Affairs Director-General Benjamin Ho.
The mishandling by the Philippine government of the May 9 incident has created economic problems with Taiwan suspending the hiring of Filipino workers (the Department of Labor used to process some 2,500 job placements every month for Taiwan) and discouraging Taiwanese tourists from travelling to the Philippines.
Some of the 87,000 OFWs in Taiwan have experienced hostilities citing the government’s non-action on the killing of Hung. Thankfully, the tension has subsided and both governments are cooperating with the investigation.
The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported Sunday that the video by the Philippine Coast Guard of the May 9 incident showed the six Coast Guards “laughing” while shooting the fishing boat.
“It is disturbing and embarrassing for Philippine enforcers,” Inquirer quoted its source who has seen the video.
In the light of what’s coming out of the investigation, Aquino needs someone with deep Taiwan connection to help ease the pain of the Taiwanese and ease the tension between the two governments.
Maybe, this time, he can use Domingo Lee.
