China flag planted in Boracay beach; draws negative reaction from local official

Article by Tara Yap / Manila Bulletin

A Chinese flag was reportedly planted on the white sands of the world-famous Boracay Island in Malay town, Aklan province recently that has stirred negative reaction among locals and netizens.

In a photo that went viral on Facebook, a Chinese male tourist could be seen planting the Chinese flag on the beach in Station 2 of Boracay.

“This is not OK. It would only be OK if we don’t have a territorial dispute with China,” Malay town Councilor Nenette Aguirre Graf told The Manila Bulletin in a phone interview Saturday afternoon.

Authorities are still tracing when the incident happened as the person who uploaded the original photo deleted the Facebook post, but some witnesses said it occurred Friday morning. The photo only gained traction when it was shared by radio reporter Jan Allen B. Ascaño.

Aside from the beach area, another photo also circulated of what appeared to be the same man carrying a Chinese flag while inside the Balabag Elementary School.