Asia Times: Chinese businesspeople looking for safer pastures


	May 4, 2001	atimes.com

Southeast Asia

Chinese businesspeople looking for safer pastures

MANILA - Many Chinese businesspeople living in the Philippines have started leaving the country over the past few days, the English-language daily Today has reported.

The report said that the Chinese businesspeople, "spooked by the political and economic uncertainty that was made worse by the presidential declaration of a state of rebellion," have begun moving abroad, taking their entire families with them to safer havens.

"About 20 tycoons have silently trooped to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport over the last two days and have taken separate flights to Hong Kong, Singapore or the United States," Today reported. It quoted an airport employee who helped facilitate the issuance of their travel documents as saying that the businesspeople are leaving out of fear that the situation in the Philippines may turn for the worse.

Four of the alleged leaders behind the May 1 bloody demonstration were arrested by the police. Detained on rebellion charges, a capital offense, are opposition Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, former Senate president Ernesto Maceda, Police Director Victor Batac and Senior Superintendant Diosdado Valeroso. Seven others, including Senator Gregorio Honasan and former Philippine National Police chief Panfilo Lacson are still at large. They are the object of a manhunt by authorities.

Opposition Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago may also be facing arrest for allegedly instigating thousands of rallyists to proceed to Malacanang.

Meanwhile, in Taipei, Vice Economics Minister Lin Yi-fu says the Taiwan government is keeping a close watch on the developments in the Philippines and has worked out contingency plans to cope with the situation there.

Lin made the remarks in response to questions from legislators at a Legislative Yuan committee meeting as to whether the government had planned any emergency measures to protect the personal safety of the 6,000-plus Taiwan business people in the Philippines amid that country's current political turmoil.

Lin said both the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) were concerned about the Philippine political situation and would take necessary steps, including the evacuation of Taiwan expatriates, to deal with changing developments there.

Lin denied reports from private sources that some Taiwanese businessmen had been attacked by Philippine anti-government demonstrators. Quoting reports from the Taiwan representative office in Manila, Lin said no Taiwanese expatriates or ethnic Chinese residents in the Philippines have so far been affected by the recent social unrest in that country.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared a "state of rebellion" on Tuesday after violent clashes between police and supporters of jailed former president Joseph Estrada killed at least four people and injured more than 100 in the Manila area.

Lin said the MOEA had ordered its staff members stationed in Manila to keep abreast of the latest developments in the Philippines and strengthen contacts with Taiwanese business executives and Chinese community leaders there.

Lin said although Taiwan has signed an investment protection agreement with the Philippines, the accord only offers protection for various investment projects and does not cover the protection of individual Taiwan businessmen's personal safety. Noting that Taiwan investors need the protection of Filipino policemen, Lin said the Taiwan representative office in Manila has asked Philippine law enforcement authorities to tighten protection of Taiwan expatriates.

Previous records showed that ethnic Chinese had often fallen victim to violent attacks whenever riots erupted in Southeast Asian countries. Against this backdrop, Lin said, the government has dished out contingency plans to address relevant problems. "If necessary, we'll evacuate our people from the Philippines," he explained.

Meanwhile, MOFA spokeswoman Chang Siao-yue said the Taiwan government was not in a position to make any comment on the Philippines' domestic issues. "But we are sincerely hopeful that current political disturbances in our neighboring country can be resolved peacefully soon," Chang added.

She also reminded Taiwan expatriates and prospective visitors to the Philippines to stay on high alert for their own personal safety and maintain close contact with the Taiwan representative office there for emergency assistance.

(Asia Pulse)

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