Placing the Asian Exchange Center, Inc. Under the Office of the President

January 16, 1984

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 931

PLACING THE ASIAN EXCHANGE CENTER, INC. INCLUDING ITS BRANCH OFFICE IN TAIPEI, TAIWAN, REPUBLIC OF CHINA, UNDER THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

WHEREAS, the Asian Exchange Center, Inc. is a private corporation organized under government auspices in accordance with the laws of the Republic of the Philippines to promote friendly cooperation with the Republic of China on Taiwan mainly in the fields of economic, trade, culture and scientific endeavor, following the severance of diplomatic relations between our two countries.

WHEREAS, the operations and activities of the Asian Exchange Center, Inc. are governed by its Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws and by pertinent resolutions of its Board of Directors; casia

WHEREAS, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines has exercised close supervision over the operations and activities of the Asian Exchange Center, Inc., including its branch office in Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China;

WHEREAS, such close supervision might gradually expand to such an extent that the operations and activities of the Center will completely be under the jurisdiction and control of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;

WHEREAS, to all intents and purposes, the Asian Exchange Center in Taiwan is now a dependent office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and regarded as a Class I foreign service post thereof, subject to the rules and regulations of the said Ministry applicable to all diplomatic posts and foreign service units of the Philippines the world over;

WHEREAS, the function entrusted to the Asian Exchange Center, Inc. of fostering friendly relations with the Republic of China short of diplomatic dealings is a delicate and precarious responsibility owing to our commitment to the People's Republic of China to avoid official contracts with the ruling government on Taiwan which is the Government of the Republic of China;

WHEREAS, the special status of the Asian Exchange Center in Taipei of having unofficial dealings with a country with which we have no diplomatic relations should make it a separate and distinct entity from the regular official diplomatic posts of the Philippines under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;

WHEREAS, the Asian Exchange Center, Inc. not only performs in Taiwan consular and trade functions but more importantly is mandated to attract Taiwanese investments to strengthen the economy of the Philippines;

WHEREAS, it is desirable that the Asian Exchange Center be place under the Office of the President of the Philippines in order that it may operate with more flexibility to attain its objectives;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby order that the Asian Exchange Center, Inc., including its branch office in Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China, be placed under the Office of the President of the Philippines.

This Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 16th day of January, in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Four.

Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 80 No. 8 page 1090 on February 20, 1984.