Filipino students land on disputed island in South China Sea

A DISPUTED Philippine-held island in the South China Sea could be the new battleground in the fight to lay claim on the strategic waters.

island

A GROUP of Filipino protesters has landed on a disputed Philippine-held island in the South China Sea, a local government official says, in a risky expedition that may trigger a strong reaction from China.

About 50 protesters, most of them students, reached Pagasa island in the Spratly archipelago on Saturday in a stand against what they say is Beijing’s creeping invasion of the Philippine exclusive economic zone, said Eugenio Bito-onon, the island’s mayor.

“The ‘freedom voyage’ arrived from Balabac island on a motor launch,” Bito-onon told Reuters, adding the protesters left southern Palawan on Thursday in fine weather to make the long sea crossing.

Ang labindalawang oras na paglalakbay papunta sa Pier ng Buliluyan, Palawan.

Posted by Kalayaan ATIN ITO on Saturday, 26 December 2015

China claims almost all the South China Sea, believed to have huge deposits of oil and gas, through which about $US5 trillion ($A6.87 trillion) in ship-borne trade passes every year.

Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims on the strategic waters.

Describing their expedition as a “a patriotic voyage”, the protesters, led by an ex-marine captain, planned to camp on Pagasa for three days in a symbolic act of defiance against China.

We encourage the highest leadership of the country to inform the people correctly without sugar coating the truth about...

Posted by Kalayaan ATIN ITO on Saturday, 26 December 2015

“We encourage the highest leadership of the country to inform the people correctly without sugar coating the truth about Chinese invasion of our exclusive economic zone,” the protesters said in a post on Facebook.

Government and military officials had tried to prevent the group from sailing to the disputed waters, citing security and safety reasons after a storm in the South China Sea earlier this month. The Philippines was also concerned about China’s reaction to trip as Manila has been trying to calm tensions heightened by Beijing’s rapid expansion in the South China Sea — building seven artificial islands in the disputed waters.

The Philippines has challenged Beijing before the arbitration court in The Hague, a case Beijing has not recognised.

A spokesman for Philippine President Benigno Aquino said in a radio interview on Sunday the military was closely monitoring the trip and would assist the protesters if necessary.

Walang nakapigil sa inaasam na paglalayag ng Kalayaan Atin Ito Movement patungong Kalayaan Islands.Mula Puerto Princesa, sakay ng dump track walong oras silang bumiyahe papuntang Buliluyan Island sa Bataraza.Doon nag-aantay ang lantsang ni rentahan umano mula sa bayan ng Balabac na magdadala sa kanila sa mga isla ng Kalayaan.Matinding sakripisyo man ang kanilang pinagdaanan mula pa a-kwatro ng Disyembre, malaking regalo umano sa kanila na maisakutaparan ang Freedom Voyage.Mula sa 92 miyembro ng grupo na nasa Palawan. 47 sa kanila kasama si Ret. Capt. Nick Faeldon ang nagsimulang maglayag alas siete ng umaga noong a bente tres ng Disyembre. Parte umano ng kanilang plano na iwan ang kalahati bilang support group at mai-alis sa mata ng mga awtoridad ang kanilang planong patakas na paglalayag. Nananatili naman ang natitirang volunteers sa Brgy. Buenavista. Magkasama nilang pinagsaluhan ang handa bilang selebrasyon ng kapaskuhan at ang matagumpay umanong paglalayag.Naninindigan kasi ang grupo na ito ang kanilang paraan para maipakitang sila’y nagkakaisa para ipahayag ang mensahe na bilang kabataan ay ginagampanan umano nila ang kanilang tungkulin sa bansa at pagmamahal para sa bayan.Ang bitbit umanong sat phones ng mga volunteers ang tanging paraan ng komunikasyon para i-monitor ang lagay ng mga naglalayag. At sa huling natanggap na mensahe kaninang alas siete ng umaga, nasa Johnson South Reef na ang grupo ng mga manlalayag.Naninindigan rin ang Philippine Coast Guard na may mga paglabag ang lantsang ginamit.Para naman sa Kalayaan Atin Ito Movement hindi umano ito ang magiging una at huling paglalayag ng grupo. Patuloy umano sila sa kanilang adbokasiya hangga’t walang nagiging resolusyon ang isinumiteng arbitration case sa UN Tribunal sa usapin ng mga pinag-aagawang teritoryo ng West Philippine Sea.

Posted by TV Patrol Palawan on Friday, 25 December 2015