Filipinos burn Chinese flags in protest against Duterte’s ‘weak’ response to South China Sea sinking
- Demonstration comes after the Philippine leader described the sinking of a Philippine vessel in the South China Sea as ‘just a collision’
- The incident has become a lightning rod for anti-Chinese sentiment, including fears over illegal immigration
Holding placards with messages such as “End China Aggression” and “China hands off Filipino fishermen” around 50 protesters joined the Justice for Philippines rally at Rizal Park, denouncing what they said was an effort by the president to belittle the incident, in which 22 Filipino fishermen were stranded at sea following a collision with a Chinese vessel.
After days of rising tension over the incident, Duterte broke his silence on Monday to play down the aggressive rhetoric coming from some Philippine officials who had branded the incident a “hit-and-run”, describing it instead as “just a collision”. The president urged Filipinos not to “make it worse” and reiterated the country was not ready to go to war against China – adding that he had resisted the calls of one national official to send warships to the sea.
Boat’s sinking in South China Sea was ‘just a collision’: Duterte
But Duterte’s comments enraged some critics who said he had only proved their claims that he was prioritising links with Beijing at the expense of ordinary Filipinos.
The demonstration was organised by the pressure group Defend Philippines Jobs, whose spokesman Christian Lloyd Magsoy said Duterte had failed not only the fishermen, but “also the Philippine people in general, and our national sovereignty and integrity”.
“Contrary to what Mr Duterte projects against his critics, his weak positions against Chinese aggression and bullying have only exposed him as a pro-China, anti-Filipino president,” he said.
The group accuses the president of betraying Filipino workers by allowing low skilled Chinese migrants to work in jobs they say should be reserved for the local workforce.
“China is not just robbing our waters, land, resources and sovereignty, but has long been taking our jobs away from us. What makes it worse is that our own government seems to be allowing these crimes against us to happen,” Magsoy said.
Ramon Beleno III, the head of Ateneo De Davao University’s political science department, said the protest was the product of various grievances building up, particularly a perception that jobs were being lost to Chinese. He said Manila needed to address such concerns or tensions could escalate.
“Unless and until there are concrete actions from the government, I think the anger of the people will grow,” Beleno said.
Duterte’s downplaying of ‘hit and run’ is sign of China dilemma
“The ordinary people are looking at this issue as [an example of] Chinese bullying. They [think Chinese] are not just getting our fishing grounds but also jobs intended for Filipinos,” he said, in a reference to illegal immigration.
“If the Chinese people see the burning of the flags, they might have the same sentiments and it will be a problem.”
Meanwhile, the US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim, who was visiting Duterte’s hometown of Davao City on an official trip, called for a full investigation of the sinking. He said it was a reminder of the need for code of conduct governing the laws of the sea.
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