A citizens’ movement was launched on April 24 in the Philippines against what organizers called an “insidious attempt” by the United States and the administration of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr “to impose upon us and the rest of the region and the world, a proxy war against China” potentially.
The Koalisyon ng Mamamayan Kontra Gyera (Citizens’ Coalition Against War) was launched in the capital city of Manila during a hybrid forum organized by the think tank Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute (ACPh).
The citizens’ coalition was launched amid an ongoing US-Philippines military exercise. The Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) bilateral exercise is an annual event but this year was the first time the US has deployed a long-range weapon system to the Philippines
ACPh has presented a manifesto and spearheaded a signature campaign which denounces the proxy war and the expansion of US military access in the Philippines as mandated by bilateral agreements such as the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) and the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).
The citizens’ coalition was launched amid an ongoing US-Philippines military exercise. The Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) bilateral exercise is an annual event but this year was the first time the US has deployed a long-range weapon system to the Philippines.
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Herman Tiu Laurel, ACPh’s president, said signing the manifesto is just the start of a national campaign to demand the Philippine government to focus more on immediate concerns of Filipinos like food security, public health and more efficient public transport instead of stirring tension in a disputed waterway.
Anna Malindog-Uy, ACPh’s vice-president for external affairs, said the Philippines’ strategic location makes it a “pivotal player” in any potential conflict in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly in the context of rising tension between the US and China.
She said agreements like the VFA and MDT have established the Philippines as a “forward staging ground” for the US to enhance its ability to project power in the region.
The Balikatan is being conducted in the northern Philippine island of Luzon which faces China’s Taiwan region — another flashpoint of tense China-US relations.
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Harry Roque, a former presidential spokesperson, said the Philippines must emulate Vietnam which is also a major claimant state in the South China Sea.
Roque said Vietnam stands firm in its claim over parts of the strategic waters, but remains a big trading partner of China, protecting the national interests.
