WATCH: San Francisco protest vs. China’s sea claims
LONDON –Despite what turned out to be a wet and cold summer’s day in West London, a handful of Britain’s Filipino community leaders on Friday July24, came out to denounce “China’s aggression” in the Philippines outside the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China at Portland Place.
The demonstration was part of an international day of protest from Manila to San Francisco, Guam, New York and Paris.
UK Filipino community leaders stand protesting in the rain outside Embassy of China, London. PHOTO BY MELISSA ALCANTARA
The London protest marks the third year of protests by the UK Pinoys for Good Governance (UKPGG), jointly led by digital radio personality, Peps Villanueva and immigration adviser and journalist Gene Alcantara, in coordination with the U.S. Pinoys for Good Governance (USPGG) and Filipino communities across Europe and elsewhere around the world.
From midday, Filipino community leaders stood for two hours outside the Embassy of China. They wore T-shirts in solidarity with their message, stating “China out of West Phl Sea,” and held laminated posters bearing messages such as: “Boycott products Made in China (sic) – it’s one way of fighting China’s bullying and aggression.”
Loida Nicolas Lewis leading protest demonstration in New York City. FACEBOOK
The demonstrators sang “Bayan Ko” and chanted “China, China, China, Out, Out, Out.” Tourist buses and concerned motorists honked their horns and shouted encouragements in solidarity as they passed by.
The Facebook notice announcing the London protest emphasized the importance of taking action against China, which continues to build installations on the disputed islands, presumably to strengthen its claim.
Filomenita Mongaya- Hoegsholm (front, fifth from left) leads protest in Copenhagen, Denmark. FACEBOOK PHOTO
The notice read: “The Philippines has raised the matter to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), referring to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the Tribunal has to decide whether they have jurisdiction over the matter.”
“We overseas Filipinos need to show our disgust at the bullying and bold steps that China is taking to enforce its claim over the islands.”
The statement concluded with: “Other countries such as the United States of America have been drawn into the dispute, so we do not feel like a helpless David against the Chinese Goliath. Neighboring countries such as Vietnam and Japan have also raised objections to the rising threat of China’s expansionist ambitions.”
Anti-China sea claims in Paris.
The London demonstration coincided with the protest held in Manila’s Roxas Boulevard on Saturday 25 July, wherein the West Philippine Sea Coalition openly condemned China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea. Further protests are expected in Europe during the next few days.
The China Invasion of the Scarborough Shoal and Spratly Islands will be further discussed in Malta at the European Conference being held by the European Network of Filipino Diaspora (ENFiD) at the end of the month.
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