San Francisco, California — Filipino American activists, joined by members of the Vietnamese, Hong Kong, and Taiwanese communities, rallied in front of the Chinese Consulate General. They gathered to mark Philippine Independence Day and denounce China’s escalating aggression in the West Philippine Sea.
The protest was organized by US Pinoys for Good Governance (USPGG), the Filipino-American Human Rights Alliance (FAHRA), and the Anti-Chinese Expansion Movement. It highlighted recent hostilities, including a June 17 clash at Ayungin Shoal that left eight Philippine Navy sailors injured.
Chanting “End the occupation, China out now,” demonstrators accused China of violating international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). FAHRA condemned China’s tactics as reflective of a bully nation’s aggression.
The rally also commemorated Hong Kong’s 2016 protests against China’s security law. It drew support from groups like the National Youth Movement for the West Philippine Sea (NYMWPS), the Vietnamese Community in Northern California, and others, reflecting broad regional concern.
The US Department of Defense, in response to heightened tensions, affirmed its commitment under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines. Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder warned of potential escalation due to China’s actions.
The next rally is scheduled for July 12, marking the anniversary of the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated China’s expansive territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea.
