Protesters mark 2nd day of global action vs. China

MANILA, Philippines -  Some 2,000 protesters from 30 cause-oriented groups led by the West Philippine Sea Coalition converged at the Chinese Consular Office along Gil Puyat Avenue in Makati City Wednesday morning 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 arriving infront of the Chinese Consular Office at around 11:30 am for the kick-off of the global day of protest at 12 noon.

According to Emman Hizon, a member of Akbayan and also the spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Coalition, the protest in Makati City was staged simultaneously with similar protests in the United States, Saipan and Rome.

"It is a global day of action to oppose China's agression on the integral territory of the Philippines. and to defend our territory and national soveriegnty," said Hizon.

"The West Philippine Sea Coalition is composed of several organizations, particularly led by the citizens themselves from the academe to ordinary people," Hizon added.

According to Hizon, the socond global day of protest against China was held Wednesday as it was the first year anniversary of China's occupation of Ayungin Shoal.

"We held it today (July 24)because this is the first year anniversary of China's occupation of the Ayungin Shoal which is an integral part of the Philippine territory. China is using it as a garrison to launch their fishing vessels into our territory," he said.

On May 11 last year, protesters also led by the West Philippine Sea Coalition, staged the first global day of protest against China, also infront of the Chinese Consular Office in Makati.

The protest last year called on China to stop its "invasion” of the contested Scarborough Shoal (Panatag Shoal).

Scarborough Shoal, a tiny rocky outcrop in the West Philippine Sea about 230 kilometers (140 miles) from the Philippines’ main island of Luzon is being claimed by the Philippines as part of its territory because it falls within its exclusive economic zone.

China however asserts that virtually all of the West Philippine Sea is  its historical territory.

Taiwan, Brunei, Vietnam and Malaysia also claim parts of the West Philippine Sea.