Putschist to lead planned sail of protest against China

From the Business Mirror (Nov 5): Putschist to lead planned sail of protest against China

AT least 10,000 youth volunteers around the country plan to sail to the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) to stage a monthlong protest against China’s expansive claims over the area. The “peaceful” protest would be led by Oakwood mutiny leader and retired Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon.

Faeldon announced the plan on Thursday as a US fast-attack submarine docked in Subic Bay, the site of the former American naval base. The submarine arrived days after a US warship sailed close into the reefs reclaimed by China.

Faeldon said the volunteers would come from colleges and universities around the country. We will sail to the Spratlys that China disputes and stage the protest, also in support of the territorial arbitration against Beijing, according to Faeldon.

He called the protest the “freedom voyage.” Faeldon said the protest will also take the youths to the seven islets and reefs claimed or owned by the Philippines.

The group’s trip will begin on November 30 and ends on December 30.

“They committed to this fight when a group of young volunteers conducted an information drive in their respective provinces from May 15 to October 30,” Faeldon said.

“The volunteers believe that until all citizens of this country have shown to the whole world our ability to unite and render free service to our nation, we do not have the right to ask for help from other countries,” he added.

The People’s Republic of China has built artificial islands in the West Philippine Sea and has enclosed them by prohibiting overflight and navigation above and around them, which drew condemnation from the international community.

On Wednesday the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Key West, with 150 sailors, docked in Subic Bay. Key West is designed to fit a variety of roles, including anti-submarine and antisurface ship operations, as well as intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance.

The 360-foot, 6,900-ton vessel remains one of the stealthiest, most formidable submarines in the world.

The docking of the submarine followed the sailing of the missile-guided destroyer USS Lassen near two of the reefs reclaimed by China in the West Philippine Sea last week, directly challenging China.

The government of the Philippines, which has nearly 30 million poor people, is spending for a legal case against China at the United Nations arbitral tribunal. China has refused to participate in the proceedings from the very start.

Faeldon’s group is called “Kalayaan Atin Ito” (freedom is ours).

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/putschist-to-lead-planned-sail-of-protest-against-china/