China, US focus of anger on Philippines national day

As Filipinos across the country marked their 117th Independence Day on Friday, activists were gathering outside the Chinese Embassy in Manila to protest what they see as increasing Chinese aggression in disputed sea waters.

GMA News television reported that the groups crowded outside the embassy in Metro Manila until 10.30 a.m. (0330GMT), before moving to that of the United States.

• Young and old from leftist and nationalist groups voiced opposition to what they see as recent Chinese reclamation activities in the disputed South China Sea, and alleged attacks on Filipino fishermen.

The demonstrators also called on the U.S. to end what they see as its increasing military deployment in the region, claiming it only works to serve American interests.

“What is happening in the disputed waters of the West Philippine Sea [the Philippines name for the South China Sea] is a real-life dance of dragons," House Representative Terry Ridon of the Kabataan partylist said in a statement after the protests.

He described the dance as "a show of force between the emerging red dragon that is China and the old stars-and-stripes dragon of the West, the United States.”

He stressed that Filipinos – whose nation is “seen as a minor player in the territorial dispute” – must “show both China and the U.S. that we can unite and fight for our nation’s sovereignty.”........http://www.aa.com.tr/en/news/536566--china-us-focus-of-anger-on-philippines-national-day
12/6/15
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2014:

• Philippines, U.S. to hold naval drills near disputed Scarborough shoal in South China Sea