Groups mark second ‘Global Day of Protest’ vs China

MANILA, Philippines - Some 2,000 protesters from 30 groups led by the West Philippine Sea Coalition converged at the Chinese consular office in Makati City yesterday to mark the second “Global Day of Protest” against China.

Bearing placards printed with “Our Soil, Our Soil” and “China Respect Philippine Sovereignty,” the protesters began gathering in front of the Chinese consular office along Gil Puyat Avenue for the kick-off of the global day of protest at noon.

They accused China of “gunboat diplomacy,” demonstrating against the Asian giant’s moves to stake its claims in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

Riot police cordoned off the entrance to an office building housing the Chinese consulate as an estimated 1,000 demonstrators took Beijing to task for “bullying” the Philippines.

Emman Hizon of Akbayan and spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Coalition said the protest was staged simultaneously with similar protest actions in the United States, Saipan and Rome.

“It is a global day of action to oppose China’s aggression on the integral territory of the Philippines and to defend our territory and national sovereignty,” Hizon said.

Malacañang, for its part, said it had no hand in the protest actions against China.

“Those protests are being done by the Filipino citizens themselves on how they view their relation or their current situation with China on the ongoing row at Panatag Shoal,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.

Lacierda also pointed out President Aquino precisely did not mention China in his State of the Nation Address last Monday.

He said the proceedings against China’s claims are already in the international tribunal.

“We have not spoken on China because it’s already in the process of being arbitrated. So do we need to say anything more than that?” he explained.

“And so, some people are saying: Do we have a hand in these? No, we do not have a hand in these,” Lacierda said.

Hizon said the second global day of protest against China was held to mark the first year of China’s occupation of Ayungin Shoal.

“We held it because this is the first anniversary of China’s occupation of the Ayungin Shoal which is an integral part of Philippine territory. China is using it as a garrison to launch their fishing vessels into our territory,” he said.

“Our simple message for China today is to stop your intrusions, and stop your bullying of other claimant countries,” said Risa Hontiveros, former Akbayan representative and one of the protest leaders.

The demonstrators, who included politicians, former military officers and church officials, accused China in a statement handed out at the protest of implementing “gunboat diplomacy in the region.”

They put up a portable stage on the street, snarling traffic as they sang patriotic songs, blew horns, danced and hoisted anti-Chinese slogans.

Former Interior secretary Rafael Alunan said Filipinos would not back down despite the country’s weak armed forces.

“We have a long history of resistance and China is best forewarned,” Alunan told his fellow demonstrators.

Alunan said Beijing’s aggressive claims have brought it bad publicity and led to a US decision to reassert its presence in Asia.

“It’s important for China to understand that if it is not seen as a troublemaker and as a country that is out to dominate other nations, effects like the (US) Asian pivot and the building of coalitions to deal with China on territorial disputes will not be happening, including our protest,” Alunan said. – Delon Porcalla, AP