Ailing envoy to China back in 2 weeks—Del Rosario

Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert del Rosario. AP FILE PHOTO

Ailing Philippine Ambassador to China Sonia Brady may be flown home in early September to help her recover from a stroke she suffered in Beijing last week, said Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario Tuesday.

Del Rosario, who returned to Manila after a hasty weekend trip to China, also confirmed that President Benigno Aquino had directed him to look for a replacement for Brady, “to improve her chances of a full recovery.”

“We were told at a medical briefing in Beijing yesterday (Monday) that the ambassador’s condition has been improving regularly on a day to day basis,” Del Rosario told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in a text message.

“At the current rate of progress, she may be flown to Manila in two weeks,” he added.

Appointed in May after the Philippines and China got into a heated dispute over Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal in the West Philippine (South China) Sea, the 71-year-old Brady suffered a stroke on August 22 in her official residence in Beijing.

She had also suffered a mild stroke earlier this year, it has been reported.

Still could not speak

Del Rosario visited her over the weekend and said on Monday that her condition was improving although she still could not speak.

“To improve her chances of a full recovery, the President has instructed (me) to start the process of finding a replacement for the good ambassador. Let us pray for her early return to good health,” said Del Rosario.

Brady, a veteran diplomat, was on her second tour as envoy to China, after a long search ended with the rejection by the Commission on Appointments of Chinese-Filipino businessman Domingo Lee, the choice for the post of Mr. Aquino.

Brady first served in the Beijing post from 2006 to 2010.

Del Rosario said the Chinese Foreign Ministry was looking after Brady “with care and concern.”

Improving relations

While the Department of Foreign Affairs was looking for a replacement for Brady, Deputy Chief of Mission Alex Chua was overseeing affairs at the Beijing Embassy, the DFA said.

Del Rosario said that while he was in Beijing, he also met with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi to discuss ways to improve relations between the two countries.

Although Aquino has withdrawn two Philippine vessels from the shoal off the northwestern Philippines, Chinese ships have remained. The Chinese have also not removed the rope and buoys they set up at the entry to a sprawling lagoon ringed by rocky outcrops, apparently to keep Filipino fishing boats out, Philippine officials said.

“We discussed in broad strokes the need to move our bilateral relations forward,” said Del Rosario, adding that he renewed an invitation to Yang to visit the Philippines, “so we can have a deeper discussion on how our cooperation could be enhanced amid the challenges that confront us.”

The disputed shoal and other islands in the West Philippine Sea are claimed by China and in part by, aside from the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. They are believed to lie over rich oil and natural gas deposits. With a report from AP