Filipino activists mark Independence Day with rally against Chinese sea reclamation
Left-wing groups use Independence Day to voice anger over activities in South China Sea while also objecting to US military presence.
Hundreds of protesters from mainly left-wing groups yelled "Hands off, China" in front of the Chinese consulate in Makati City yesterday to mark Philippine Independence Day in a sign of growing discontent over Beijing's reclamation activities in the South China Sea.
It was the first time the extreme left had mobilised its cause-oriented groups, 43 years after China under Chairman Mao Zedong started secretly sending weapons and money to the New People's Army, the armed wing of the Philippine left.
Former congressman Teo-doro Casino, member of the Bayan Muna (Country First) left-wing party, said: "We felt we had to take a stronger stand ... in response to a greater escalation of what they are doing [in the South China Sea]."
"China today is very different from the China of Mao Zedong. China now is capitalist. In fact it's a budding imperialist country, socialist in name but capitalist through and through."
However, to show that the group had not dropped its anti-American stance, Casino said they would also stage their usual Independence Day protests afterward in front of the US embassy in Manila.
"We can't allow the US to be hands on [in the conflict] while telling China hands off," he said.
The demonstrators displayed the dual nature of their fight in many of their placards.