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Hundreds of Filipinos demonstrated outside the Chinese embassy inthe Philippines on Friday over an escalating territorial row, withthe protesters denouncing China's rulers as arrogant bullies. Waving national flags, the protesters called for Chinese ships topull away from a disputed shoal in the South China Sea where bothnations have had ships stationed for more than a month in an effortto assert their sovereignty. Elsewhere in the Philippines, Chinese tourists enjoy the tropicalsummer, preferring to experience the country"s vacation spotsand meet Filipinos, according to a report on GMA News""24 Oras." 'Make Peace Not War' GMA News"s Raffy Tima also reported the Department of Tourismlearned that 10 tour groups that would have brought 1,000 Chinesetourists, cancelled their trips to the Philippines. Chinatown entrepreneurs Tima interviewed said they do not feel anyanti-Chinese sentiment resulting from the ongoing standoff betweenBeijing and Manila over Panatag Shoal. "Our protest is directed at the overbearing actions andstance of the government in Beijing, which behaves like an arrogantoverlord, even in the homes of its neighbors," said rallyorganizer Loida Nicolas Lewis. During the peaceful, hour-long rally by about 300 people, theprotesters carried placards that read: "China stop bullyingthe Philippines," "Make Peace Not War," and"China, Stop Poaching in Philippine Waters." The territorial row centers on Scarborough Shoal, a tiny rockyoutcrop in the South China Sea about 230 kilometers (140 miles)from the Philippine main island Luzon. The Philippines says the shoal is part of its territory because itfalls within its exclusive economic zone. But China claims virtually all of the South China Sea, which isbelieved to sit atop huge oil and gas reserves, as its historicalterritory, even waters close to the coasts of other Asiancountries. Editorials in newspapers controlled by the ruling Communist Partyhave repeatedly warned that China is prepared to go to war againstthe Philippines to end the stand-off. Taiwan, Brunei, Vietnam and Malaysia also claim parts of the SouthChina Sea. "We just want the international community to understand thatif, today, they can do it to the Philippines, they can also bullythe other claimants too," said one of the co-organizers of therally, Jackson Gan. China's foreign ministry reacted angrily to the Manila protest,accusing the Philippine government of encouraging it. "It is a wrong action that complicates and magnifies thesituation," foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said inBeijing. "We once again urge the Philippine side... not to take actionthat will escalate the situation." 'Decision by private citizens' President Benigno Aquino's spokesman, Edwin Lacierda, toldreporters the government did not have a hand in organizing theprotest. "It was a decision taken by private citizens who feel out ofpatriotism that they have to speak on the issue," Lacierdasaid, adding they were exercising their constitutional right tofree expression and peaceful assembly. China on Friday accused the Philippines of escalating an alreadytense territorial dispute over the South China Sea following anoisy but peaceful anti-Beijing protest in Manila. "Encouraging the public to march and protest was a mistakenstep by the Philippine side that has made the current situationmore complicated and escalated it," Chinese foreign ministryspokesman Hong Lei said. — With reports from Reuters and Agence France-Presse/ELR/VS, GMA News. The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as Video Game Accessories , China Modern Islamic Clothing, and more. For more , please visit Haji Player today!
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