Amid confidence in UN ruling, protesters slam ‘bully’ China

Video by RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net

Hundreds of protesters trooped to the Chinese embassy in Makati City on Friday to slam the aggression of China in the disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

Former representative Roilo Golez, chairman of the Di Ka Pasisiil Movement, one of the various organizations which form the Movement and Alliance to Resist China’s Aggression (Marcha), said that China’s refusal to participate in the United Nations arbitral tribunal hearing the maritime dispute is a clear sign of being a bully.

“The arbitral tribunal will make a decision whether they participate or not and they can always say that they will ignore it, but they cannot because they will be facing a very strong world opinion against them if they ignore the decision of the arbitral tribunal,” Golez said.

Filipino-American advocate Eric Lachica said China is “not acting on good faith” by refusing to recognize the United Nations Convention of the Laws of the Sea (Unclos), which it signed together with other Asian countries.

“They are not following their agreement with their neighbors. They have signed the Unclos. But they have turned their backs on their agreement with their neighbors,” Lachica said.

Protesters shout as they gather at the Chinese consulate in the financial district of Makati city, east of Manila, Philippines, Friday, July 24, 2015, to protest China’s artificial building of islands in the disputed group of islands off South China Sea. The Philippines has recently filed a case before a permanent international arbitration court in The Hague, challenging China’s claim to most of the islands in the South China Sea. The group of islands, known as the Spratlys, is claimed by China, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. AP PHOTO

“China is falling into a trap of their own making,” he added.

Both Lachica and Golez believe that the Philippine government “is doing well” in handling our maritime dispute with China.

“I think they are doing well as the legal part is concerned—that is the correct way. However, we still have to do more things to be able to develop a very credible external defense,” Golez said.

READ: Philippines stands up to China

Golez said the Philippines need “very good alliances” to beef up its diplomatic protest.

He said the country should not enter into a bilateral talk or joint exploration with China.

“It’s hard to do a bilateral against a bully, against a giant,” he said.

READ: China—a bully in the block

Lachica, meanwhile, said he was glad that President Benigno Aquino III “has taken a strong leadership position” over China’s territorial aggression.

Lachica said he was confident that the Philippines will get a favorable ruling at the UN tribunal.

“All indications seem that we will get a favorable ruling,” he said.

He urged Filipinos to boycott Chinese products like what other countries have been doing.

He said the Philippines should also “put economic pressure on China.”

“We hope the Philippine government will make economic measures…We hope Aquino on Monday will announce on his Sona (State of the Nation Address) (the) measures to counter China’s hard-headed attitude on this issue,” he said.

The protesters conducted a noise barrage in front of the Chinese consulate and peacefully dispersed after. IDL