Worldwide protest set vs China's intrusion in West Phl sea

MANILA, Philippines - Amid the ongoing territorial dispute, Filipinos here and abroad will stage next week a "Global Day of Protest" against China's "bullying" and intrusion in the West Philippine Sea.

The protest will be held on July 24 in front of Chinese embassies or consulates worldwide, according to the group US Pinoys for Good Governance.

The US-based Filipino group said the protest will be against China's "unilateral proclamation" of West Philippine Sea to be part of the new Sansha City Prefecture, which is based at Woody Island in the Paracels.

According to the group's website, the protests will start at noon. In the Philippines, it will be conducted in front of the China Consulate along Gil Puyat Avenue in Makati City.

Similar protests will also be held in front of the United Nation's headquarters in New York City and in front the Chinese embassy and consulate in Washington, D.C. and San Francisco, California.

In a manifesto in a past protest, the group asked the Chinese government to respect the rights of its Asian neighbors.

"Let it be clear to all that the Filipino people have no quarrel with their Chinese brothers and sisters, with whom they share centuries of good relations... Our protest is directed at the overbearing actions and stance of the government in Beijing, which behaves like an arrogant overlord, even in the homes of its neighbors," the manifesto said.

On Tuesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said the Philippines' arbitral proceedings against China are now officially under way.

The DFA said the Arbitral Tribunal that has been appointed to hear the case of the Philippines challenging China’s territorial claims in the disputed seas formally constituted and held its first meeting on July 11 at The Hague, Netherlands.

Related story: DFA: UN tribunal convenes on sea row

The Philippines and China, along with other Southeast Asian countries, are involved in a territorial dispute over the West Philippine Sea, which is almost entirely claimed by China as its own.

Chinese ships were previously sighted in the disputed territories.