As Roxas Boulevard bathed in the early morning light on Saturday, vendors and passersby noticed a conspicuous absence along the stretch of the iconic baywalk. But Chinese-Filipino social activists and the group that commissioned the statue expressed anger over the statue’s removal. Reinforced concrete pipes will be installed at that area considered as the lowest elevation in Roxas Boulevard,” Lamentillo said in a text message. See said the statue was removed to deflect protests from the Japanese government and its embassy in Manila. China and Korea, she said, also had statues of comfort women but remained trading partners with Japan.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer April 28, 2018 23:15 UTC