MANILA, Philippines — Nationalist and fisherfolk advocacy groups staged a lightning rally outside the Chinese Embassy in Makati City on Tuesday to denounce what they described as the harassment of Filipino fishermen by Chinese vessels at the Sabina Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. The protest, led by the Filipinos Do Not Yield (FDNY) Movement, Alyansa Bantay Kapayapaan at Demokrasya (ABKD), ALAB, and allied organizations, was held in response to a water cannon incident involving China Coast Guard (CCG) ships and Filipino fishing boats operating within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone last Saturday. According to the official reports, three Filipino fishermen were injured after CCG ships deployed high-pressure water cannons and carried out dangerous maneuvers against their fishing boats. The fishermen were reportedly knocked down by the force of the blasts and struck hard parts of their vessels. They were later treated medically and declared in stable condition. Demonstrators gathered along Gil Puyat Avenue carrying placards and chanting slogans calling on China to respect Philippine sovereignty and the rights of Filipino fisherfolk. As part of the protest, the groups staged a die-in to dramatize what they said were the life-threatening dangers posed by water cannoning at sea. An effigy representing a CCG vessel was later destroyed, while cardboard replicas of the Chinese flag were torn apart as a symbolic act of condemnation. The groups said Sabina Shoal lay well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, making the alleged use of water cannons by Chinese vessels a violation of international law and human rights norms. They urged the Philippine government to take firmer action and appealed to the international community to closely monitor developments in the West Philippine Sea. In a joint statement, the organizations reiterated that intimidation and violence at sea would never be acceptable. “The West Philippine Sea is ours,” they said, stressing that harassment by foreign vessels should not be normalized. The rally lasted for about an hour and was peacefully dispersed before noon. Organizers said similar actions could follow if incidents against Filipino fishermen continue.