Groups call for boycott of China-made products

MANILA, Philippines - Groups opposed to China’s territorial aggression in the West Philippine Sea on Friday staged a picket at the Chinese Consulate in Makati City as they called for a boycott of China-made products.

Parañaque City Rep. Roilo Golez said that a boycott should be made on China made products, especially garments. Golez is the convenor of the Movement and Alliance to Resist China’s Aggression (Marcha), a network of individuals and groups opposed to China’s territorial aggression in the West Philippine Sea.

Marcha’s protest coincided with yesterday’s observance of the “3rd Global Day of Protest Against China.”

Golez said China is dumping its “cheap” and “substandard” products in the Philippines. He urged the public to buy Philippine-made products or those made by “friendly” countries instead.

“Ano ang ginagawa nila? Nag da-dump sila (China) ng mga mura at walang kakwenta-kwenta na mga produkto dito sa Pilipinas. Maraming nabibiktima dyan. Ang industriya natin, nasisisira. Kaya wag nating tangkilikin 'yang mga produkto na 'yan. Iwasan natin. Boycott China products,” Golez addressed some 200 protesters.

“Kung ako, sa tuwing bibili ng gamit, tinatanong ko muna kung saan gawa. Pag sinabing made in China, sorry ayoko n'yan. 'Yung mga Christmas lights, made in China, ang daming bahay na ang nasunog. Kaya boycott China products,” he added.

Aside from its alleged economic aggression, the groups under Marcha also expressed their opposition to China’s territorial, environmental, social and political “aggressions” against the Philippines and other countries.

“Walang ka-konsyen-konsyensa. Sinisira nila nag kalikasan. Di lang tayo ang nabibiktima, buong mundo. 'Yung coral reefs sa West Philippine Sea, ki-ni-claim nila ay nasisira. 'Yung Scarborough Shoal, tapos 'yung black sand natin sa Ilocos,  sa Zanbales, ninanakaw nila. Kaya dapat ikondena din natin ang economic aggression ng China,” said Golez.

Golez said most of the shabu or methamphetamine hydrochloride flooding the country came from China. This he said is “social aggression.”

“Sinisira nila ang social fabric ng ating bansa. Alam n'yo ba na halos lahat ng shabu, galing sa mainland China?” he said.

However, Golez said the most dangerous of all is China’s “political aggression.”

He said there are reports of China’s alleged interference in the political affairs of the United States.

“In 1996 nagkaroon ng Senate investigation sa US. Nalaman nila na 'yung mga Chinese ay nagbibigay ng pondo sa mga politico dun. Kung sa Estados Unidos ginagawa nila, baka dito gawin din nila. Kaya sabihin natin, Tsina, wag kayong makialam sa politika namin dito sa Pilipinas. At sa mga politico, wag kayong making sa China. Ang mga senador at congressman natin, dapat marinig namin kayo. Tumayo naman kayo. Di namin kayo naririnig. Sabihin nyo kung ano ang paninindigan ninyo sa Tsina,” he said.

Marcha has called on the public to support the Philippines’ case against China before the United Nations Tribunal at the Hague. The group also pressed for an intensive drive to educate Filipinos on the “just” claim of the Philippines over the Kalayaan Island Group.

Marcha also drummed-up support for the Armed Forces’ modernization program and urged Malacanang to speed-up the development of the country’s external defense capability through the purchase of big ticket items such as missiles, frigates and fighter planes.

Last June 12, groups opposed to China’s territorial aggression in the West Philippine Sea also staged a protest before the Chinese Consulate.

In that protest, the groups called on China to vacate the Mischief Reef and the Scarborough Shoal – which the Philippines is claiming as part of its territory – and to stop its reclamation and construction activities in the West Philippine Sea.