{"id":16360,"date":"2014-06-22T10:38:29","date_gmt":"2014-06-22T02:38:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=16360"},"modified":"2014-06-22T10:57:49","modified_gmt":"2014-06-22T02:57:49","slug":"filipinos-vietnamese-call-out-china-canada-on-sea-dispute","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2014\/06\/22\/filipinos-vietnamese-call-out-china-canada-on-sea-dispute\/","title":{"rendered":"Filipinos, Vietnamese call out China, Canada on sea dispute"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"SONY<\/a>British Columbia-based Filipinos and Vietnamese joined forces in a prayer rally at the China Consulate on Granville St., Vancouver, to protest what they called “incursions” of China in their maritime jurisdictions in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).<\/p>\n

About 50 protesters joined the rally, bearing placards\u00a0 urging China to stop the coercion and intimidation of its neighbors. This time, they also called out Canada to make a stand on the brewing regional conflict.<\/p>\n

This is also the first time that ethnic Filipinos and Vietnamese have come together in Vancouver, hoping to nudge China from its hard-line position and invite international condemnation of its actions.<\/p>\n

In recent months, tension in the region has intensified, with both the Philippine and Vietnamese governments denouncing China’s growing aggression, while China insists it has “indisputable sovereignty” over the vast sea expanse, including the Spratly Islands and the Paracel Islands.<\/p>\n

Wilfredo Bagunu, spokesman for the newly formed community advocacy group Tapsilog (FilCan Network for Truth & Justice) warned this will only be the first of a series of protest actions against China. \u201cThis is Tapsilog\u2019s first activity, coinciding with Dr. Jose Rizal\u2019s 153rd<\/sup> birthday celebration. It\u2019s fitting that we honor the Philippine national hero\u2019s memory by raising awareness about this sovereignty issue like what Rizal did during the Propaganda Movement,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Eric Lieu, vice president of the Vietnamese Canadian Community in Greater Vancouver Society, said the growing outrage over China’s intransigence also united Vancouver Vietnamese from both North and South. \u201cAbout 30 people, mostly from the Vietnamese international students and the business community called on China not to bring their oil rigs to the east sea because it belongs to Vietnam.\u00a0 We also want to send a strong message to China to desist from making aggressive actions like attacking Vietnamese fishermen in Hoang-sa and Truong-sa islands,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Bagunu said he was hopeful they can get more individuals to come out and join their activities. \u201cWe will continue to raise awareness primarily using the social media, town meetings, prayer rallies, seminars, until a tipping point is reached.\u201d He believes that there are thousands of quiet people supporting this cause. \u201cWhen a tipping point is reached, thousands will roar,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Amado Mercado, a member of the Filipino Canadian Construction Society, said they are strongly urging Canada to condemn Chinese aggression in the contested\u00a0 territories. “The U.S., U.K., Australia and the 10 member-countries of the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) have already sided with us. Canada should do the same,” he said.<\/p>\n

Businessman Ed Tapia also bemoans Canada’s silence on the issue. “Canada, help us fight the bullies,” cried his placard.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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