17 December 1998

CLAMOR MOUNTS FOR REVIEW OF ONE CHINA POLICY

The clamor for the review of the One China Policy is gaining ground with more supporters from the House of Representatives and the private sector. This was reported by Congressman Roilo Golez, author (with Cong Edgar Lara and Cong. Enrique Garcia) of House Resolution No. 513 entitled "RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND THE COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL DEFENSE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE REPORTEDLY UNFRIENDLY ACT OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT BY BUILDING STRUCTURES WITHIN THE AREA OF THE MISCHIEF REEF IN CLEAR VIOLATION OF THE U.N. CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA, INQUIRING ON THE STATUS OF AFP MODERNIZATION PROGRAM AND URGING THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT TO REVIEW ITS ONE-CHINA POLICY." According to Golez, the momentum picked up with the filing of a related resolution by Iloilo City Congressman Raul Gonzalez, House Resolution No. 583 entitled "RESOLUTION URGING CONGRESS TO REVIEW AND REEXAMINE THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT FOREIGN POLICY TOWARDS THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN), AND TO STUDY THE DESIRABILITY OF RENEWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN)." The groundswell in the House started after the visit to Mischief Reef of U.S. Congressman Dana Rohrabacher and Congressman Golez, together with a big Philippine media group, where they saw for themselves the continued expansion of the Chinese structures at Mischief Reef and the presence of three Chinese navy ships in the area. Many members of the House signed the Golez-Lara-Garcia (E.) resolution during the last two days, including the following prominent members: Representatives Plaridel Abaya, Rodolfo Aguinaldo, Rodolfo Albano III, Rolando Andaya, Jr., Agapito Aquino, Benigno Aquino III, Robert Ace Barbers, Salacnib Baterina, Rodolfo Bacani, Rolando Briones, Ignacio Bunye, Nancy Cuenco, Raoul del Mar, Zenaida Ducut, Tomas Dumpit, Rodrigo Duterte, Rodolfo Fariñas, Rodolfo Gonzales, Jose Mari Gonzalez, James Gordon, Ernesto Herrera, Constantino Jaraula, Josefina Joson, Henry Lanot, Julio Ledesma IV, Dante Liban, Renato Magtubo, Imee Marcos, Francis Nepomuceno, Juan Orola, Manuel Ortega, Jacinto Paras, Amadeo Perez, Jr., Prospero Pichay, Nestor Ponce, Allen Quimpo, Ralph Recto, Antonino Roman, Gerry Salapuddin, Ranjit Shahani, Grace Singson, Rodolfo Tuazon, Bernardo Vergara, Lawrence Wacnang, Edith Yotoko-Villanueva, Juan Miguel Zubiri, J. Apolinario Lozada, Jr., Leonardo Montemayor, Emerito Calderon, Melvyn Eballe, Orlando Fua, Jr., Eduardo Veloso, Ricardo Silverio, Rene Silos, Fausto Seachon, Angelo Montilla, Roy Padilla, Ma. Elena Palma-Gil, Manuel Parcon, Cresente Paez, Efren Herrera, Gregorio Ipong, Renato Leviste, Roan Libarios, George Hofer, Salvio Fortuno, Douglas Cagas, Elias Bulut, Juan Pablo Bondoc, Napoleon Beratio, Alex Bascug, Augusto Baculio, Alipio Badelles, Mayo Almario, Harlin Abayon, Josefina Dominguez and Benasing Macarambon, Jr. In the private sector, the Philippine Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PAPI), a large national organization of publishers coming from all corners of the country, came out with a resolution condemning China's incursions at Mischief Reef and supporting the House move to review the country's One China Policy. The resolution was passed during the 5th National Press Congress held last weekend in Baguio City. PAPI is headed by veteran media personality Johnny Dayang.