Vol VI. No. 5 - March 15, 2024

The warmongering of US imperialism, particularly its provocation of a military confrontation with China on the issue of Taiwan, including its goading of the strengthening of operations of the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard in the West Philippine Sea, brings great danger to the lives of Filipinos and to the country’s independence.

The establishment of US military bases as part of the US’ “theatre of war” against China directly tramples on the rights of the Philippines to self-determination. Using the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) as support to the US war machinery violates the independence of the country.

In 2023, the construction of US military bases began in nine “agreed location” in the country. Among the completed projects were the jetfuel depot and command center at the Lal-lo Airport in Cagayan (a civilian airport); expansion of the runway and construction of warehouse and airplane hangar in Basa Airbase in Pampanga; jetfuel storage depot in Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu; and huge buildings and barracks at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija. Construction has started in deepening the port, construction of an airport and military camp in Balabac Island in Palawan and other EDCA (Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement) sites for the exclusive use of US troops. In September 2023, the US announced its desire to establish more military bases in addition to existing ones.

The US tightens its grip of the operational control of the AFP through its control of the latter´s arsenal. Increasing volumes of bombs, arms and used military equipment are stockpiled on the pretext of the “modernization” of the reactionary armed forces. The US uses these weapons and munitions in its aggressive intervention in the “counter-insurgency” campaigns of the AFP and the Marcos regime against the Philippine revolutionary movement that remains the strongest and biggest obstacle to its imperialist ambitions in Asia.  This deepens the AFP’s dependence on US financial and military aid, making it subservient to US dictates.

Notwithstanding official pronouncements that the AFP is now concentrating on “external defence”, the vast majority of its battalions are still deployed in guerrilla fronts of the New People´s Army (NPA), many of which they have repeatedly declared “insurgency free”.

The so-called Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC) of the AFP purportedly for the protection of the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines in Palawan (where American and Chinese ships are always present), and in Batanes (where the US plans to establish their camp because of its proximity to Taiwan); is in fact an extension of the US  ”archipelagic defense strategy” that lays down a missile and artillery network in its “first-island chain”. This promotes the scheme of containment of China. This strategy provides the mainland US a “deep defense” in the event of war against China.

In reality, this “archipelagic defense strategy” is an offensive plan. It is part of the broader US Indo-Pacific Security Strategy. Together with this is the strengthening of the US military alliances in Asia, like the AUKUS  (Australia-United Kingdom-United States) and the QUAD (US, UK, India and Japan).

The NDFP supports the people of Taiwan in their militant struggle against using the country as a pawn in the US geopolitical strategy. The NDFP condemns US interventionism in the internal affairs of China. At the same time, the NDFP also condemns China's militaristic response towards Taiwan. The NDFP supports the proletariat and the peoples of China and Taiwan in their desire for a peaceful and orderly resolution of their reunification.

The NDFP, the proletariat and people of the Philippines, and the whole world stand against the US warmongering and using the Philippines as staging-point in its aggression in Taiwan and against China.

As the US provocation against China intensifies, the possibility of war increases. This is a manifestation of their increasing  rivalry amidst the deepening crisis of the world capitalist system.

The NDFP calls on the Filipino people to stand up and defend their lives and the independence of their country.  A powerful anti-imperialist movement  should be generated to prevent the Philippines from  being unnecessarily dragged into an inter-imperialist war, and suffer the  consequences thereof.