Chinese warned to stay off the streets
Source: Agencies |
May 10, 2012, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINA warned its citizens in Manila to stay off the streets and take precautions during anti-Chinese protests planned for tomorrow, a sign of mounting tensions during a standoff in the South China Sea.
The planned protests of about 1,000 people could heighten tensions between China and the Philippines over Huangyan Island.
On Tuesday, China's Embassy in Manila posted an advisory on its website asking its citizens to stay indoors, avoid demonstrations and refrain from confrontations with locals, anticipating a "large-scale" anti-China protest in Manila tomorrow.
That coincided with a stern warning from Beijing that China has made "every preparation" to counter potential expansion of the conflict by the Philippines.
Civil society and political groups with links to Philippine President Benigno Aquino's political allies plan to take to the streets tomorrow in a protest against China.
The protest organizers plan similar actions outside China's embassies and consulates in the United States, Canada, Australia, Italy and other Asian capitals.
Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said in a statement that Washington had reaffirmed its commitment to help Manila if violence erupts in the South China Sea, citing a 1951 defence pact with the US.
The standoff at Huangyan Island began in April when eight Chinese fishing boats, taking refuge in a lagoon near Huangyan Island due to bad weather, were harassed by a Philippine warship. Shortly after, two unarmed China Marine Surveillance vessels which were conducting routine patrols in the area, arrived to protect the fishermen.
The planned protests of about 1,000 people could heighten tensions between China and the Philippines over Huangyan Island.
On Tuesday, China's Embassy in Manila posted an advisory on its website asking its citizens to stay indoors, avoid demonstrations and refrain from confrontations with locals, anticipating a "large-scale" anti-China protest in Manila tomorrow.
That coincided with a stern warning from Beijing that China has made "every preparation" to counter potential expansion of the conflict by the Philippines.
Civil society and political groups with links to Philippine President Benigno Aquino's political allies plan to take to the streets tomorrow in a protest against China.
The protest organizers plan similar actions outside China's embassies and consulates in the United States, Canada, Australia, Italy and other Asian capitals.
Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said in a statement that Washington had reaffirmed its commitment to help Manila if violence erupts in the South China Sea, citing a 1951 defence pact with the US.
The standoff at Huangyan Island began in April when eight Chinese fishing boats, taking refuge in a lagoon near Huangyan Island due to bad weather, were harassed by a Philippine warship. Shortly after, two unarmed China Marine Surveillance vessels which were conducting routine patrols in the area, arrived to protect the fishermen.
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