Veteran diplomat named to sensitive post in China

Manila: A career diplomat with decades of experience in Asian relations have been appointed by President Benigno Aquino as the Philippines' new ambassador to China.

Sonia C. Brady, 70, had served before as Ambassador to the People's Republic of China from April 2006 to January 2010. She reprises her role in this post amid tensions between Manila and Beijing over the occupation of forces from the two countries of the Scarborough Shoal, a disputed island located in the West Philippine Sea.

"President Benigno S. Aquino has nominated career diplomat Sonia C. Brady as Ambassador to the People's Republic of China with concurrent jurisdiction over the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Mongolia…" the presidential palace said in a statement issued yesterday. Earlier, in the day, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte announced the appointment of Brady during an interview aired over government-run dzRB radio.

Key positions

Aside from serving as Philippine Ambassador to Beijing from April 2006 to January 2010, Brady also served as Ambassador to Thailand from 2002 to 2003, and Ambassador to Myanmar from 1995 to 1999.

Brady had served as deputy chief of mission to Indonesia from 1994 to 1995; deputy chief of mission to Thailand (1992-1994); third secretary and vice-consul and then second secretary and consul in Beijing, China from 1976 to 1978.

The appointment of a veteran diplomat and a China expert at that, to the key post of Ambassador to China came at a crucial period for the Philippines.