Filipino movement opposes US meddling

A citizens' movement was launched on Wednesday 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 Giyera, or the Citizens' Coalition Against War, was launched in the capital Manila during a hybrid forum organized by the think tank Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies, or ACPh.

The ACPh has presented a manifesto and spearheaded a signature campaign that 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, the Mutual Defense Treaty and the Visiting Forces Agreement.

The citizens' coalition was launched amid an ongoing US-Philippines military exercise. The Balikatan, or shoulder-to-shoulder, bilateral exercise is an annual event, but this year was the first time the US deployed a long-range weapon system to the Philippines.

Herman Tiu Laurel, president of the ACPh, 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.

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.

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 Taiwan — another flashpoint of China-US relations.

Sass Rogando Sasot, a popular political blogger and scholar of international relations, said the US has a history of staging proxy wars against its rivals, and a US-led proxy war is not aligned with the Philippines' national interests.

Sasot said promoting economic development and preserving sovereignty are aligned with national interests. "Let's bring back sanity to Philippine foreign policy," said Sasot, noting that the South China Sea issue is best resolved through peaceful discussions.

Malindog-Uy said the "intricacies of geopolitics exact a considerable toll "that the Philippines can barely afford.