Highlighting US military build-up in the Asia Pacific region, Communist Party of the Philippines Chief Information Officer Marco Valbuena cited the 25 hectares of land in Calayan island, northernmost Philippines which was recently acquired by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) last 8 June 2023. According to Valbuena, the said land, which was donated by the local municipality, will allow the US to deploy its armed forces and military hardware in Calayan island.

In a statement issued 8 June 2023, Valbuena stated “claims that the build up of US military forces in the region, especially in the northern parts of the Philippines, are not directed against any country, is false public posturing to obscure the fact that the US is now vigorously pulling the country into a conflict with China. Over the past few weeks, the US has staged back to back war games in the country, together with the Philippines, Japan, Australia and other US allies, conducted in a way that China considers militarily provocative."

He also advised, "The Filipino people must oppose any plan to allow the US military to deploy its forces and hardware in the Calayan island, even as they oppose the construction of US military bases and facilities in at least four other areas under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).”

Marco Valbuena also stated “the US military has now deployed at least three aircraft carriers and naval strike groups in the South China Sea, and has pressed the militaries of its allied countries such as Japan, South Korea, Australia, the United Kingdom and others to deploy their own troops and military equipment in the area. There is now a rising spiral of military build-up between the US and China, increasing the risk of armed conflict."