A free climber referred to as “The Frenchman Spiderman” climbed a skyscraper in Manila on Tuesday to support the Philippines’ maritime claims within the dispute South China Sea.
Frenchman Alain Robert, who built over 150 structures around the globe, including Burj Khalifa in Dubai and FranceThe Eiffel Tower attracted crowds and disrupted traffic within the financial district of the Philippine capital.
He climbed the 47-story GT Tower and not using a harness and was immediately arrested after successfully descending from the skyscraper.
Robert said he climbed to lift awareness about maritime disputes between Philippines and China within the South China Sea.
“I do know there may be tension over the Philippine Sea, but I just wish to remind people who the ocean and the islands belong to Philippines and nobody else, that is why that is the aim of my climbing the mountain today,” said Robert, without explaining why he was interested by this matter.
South China Sea: “stop harassing us,” the Philippine foreign minister calls on Beijing
South China Sea: “stop harassing us,” the Philippine foreign minister calls on Beijing
Robert climbed the identical skyscraper in 2019. For his stunt, he was arrested and fined 1,000 pesos ($18).
Philippines accused China on Tuesday of “dangerous maneuvers” that led to a collision between a coast guard vessel and a Chinese ship.
The incident was the most recent in a series of maritime clashes between the Philippines and China which have culminated in a territorial dispute within the South China Sea despite a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration that found China the claims had no legal basis. Beijing rejects the ruling.
Manila Finance District worker Andy Vergarra, who watched Robert climb, said his climb was “very scary.”
“Just him up there makes me sweat. I’m beginning to get oversensitive,” Vergarra said.
