South China Sea: French ‘Spider-Man’ scales Manila skyscraper to support Philippines’ claims in waters disputed by China

Alain Robert said he climbed the 47-storey GT Tower to raise awareness on the maritime disputes between the Philippines and China

The Philippines accused China of ‘dangerous manoeuvres’ on Tuesday that led to a collision between its coastguard ship and a Chinese vessel

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Urban climber Alain Robert, also known as the “French Spider-Man” climbs the GT Tower in Manila on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters

Published: 8:02pm, 5 Mar 2024

A free climber known as the “French Spider-Man” scaled a Manila skyscraper on Tuesday to support the Philippines’ maritime claims in the disputed South China Sea.

Frenchman Alain Robert, who has scaled more than 150 structures worldwide, including Dubai’s Burj Khalifa and France’s Eiffel Tower, drew a crowd and disrupted traffic in the Philippine capital’s financial district.

He climbed the 47-storey GT Tower without a harness, and was promptly arrested after successfully descending from the skyscraper.

Urban climber Alain Robert scaled a Manila skyscraper to support the Philippines’ maritime claims in the disputed South China Sea. Photo: Reuters

Robert said he climbed to raise awareness on the maritime disputes between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea.

“I know that there is tension, you know, with the Philippine Sea, and then just to remind people that the sea and the islands belongs to the Philippines and no one else, so that’s the purpose of my ascent today,” Robert said, without explaining why he was drawn to the cause.

Robert climbed the same skyscraper in 2019. He was arrested and fined 1,000 pesos (US$18) for his stunt.