On April 30, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines International Office (NDFP-IO) strongly opposed the “growing web of war provocations” being spun by US imperialism across the Asia Pacific. “The recent visit of Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to the Philippines - following the trilateral military framework forged last year between the United States, Japan and Marcos Jr. Regime - marks another thread in this dangerous imperialist design,” the NDFP said.

The NDFP also criticized the recent signing of the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) between the Philippines and New Zealand on April 30. “Like the existing VFA with the United States, this new agreement with New Zealand will allow their troops to enter, stay and operate within the Philippines under the pretense of joint exercises, humanitarian missions, and disaster response,” the NDFP asserted.

“But in reality, it is meant to provide a formal excuse for permanent foreign military presence serving the broader US strategy of military encirclement in Asia,” the NDFP added.

According to Marco Valbuena (Information Officer of the Communist Party of the Philippines [CPP]), “This new agreement will serve the purpose of intensifying US military operations, military exercises, and war games in Asia-Pacific surrounding China. The US is dragging more and more countries into this strategy. All these serve to exacerbate military tensions and raise the danger of igniting an armed conflict in the region.”

At the same time, the CPP criticized US plans to establish a “strategic defense command” on Philippine soil. “It is clear that the establishment of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) Strategic Defense Command aims to hasten and intensify preparation for the US war against China”, said Valbuena. “Marcos should be denounced for betraying the Filipino people and kowtowing to the Americans.”

In a related development, on April 24, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo confirmed that China and the ASEAN are both “politically committed” in concluding the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea by 2026. In this regard, the CPP reiterated that China must respect the 2016 ruling of the International Arbitral Tribunal, and that the maritime disputes must be resolved through dialogue and the peaceful means.

The CPP urged the Filipino people to unite among neighboring countries around the South China Sea, and called on the United Nations and other international bodies to press China’s compliance with the ruling in line with UNCLOS, to which it is a signatory and party.