CPP: CPP seeks halt to upcoming US military war exercises, abrogation of MDT

Propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines Website (Sep 27): CPP seeks halt to upcoming US military war exercises, abrogation of MDT

Press Release

Information Bureau

Communist Party of the Philippines

September 27, 2016

 

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today urged the Duterte regime to order the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to halt the conduct of “provocative” US military exercises set for next week around several points in Luzon.

At the same time, the CPP reiterated its call for the abrogation of the Mutual Defense Treaty of 1951 and other treaties based on it such as the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

“These US military exercises are most untimely as the Duterte regime is trying to promote lay down its foundations for an independent foreign policy,” said the CPP. “The presence of thousands of US troops on Philippine soil who swagger with their big guns and cannons does not help promote the country’s national independence and only depicts the Philippines as a US military bulwark.”

“The amphibious maneuver exercises to be conducted by the US military will simulate scenarios of a sea-to-land invasion,” said the CPP, describing the planned Philippine Amphibious Landex Exercises (Phiblex) set to be mounted on October 4 to 12.

Four US naval ships—the USS Frank Cable, USNS Washington Chambers, USNS Millinocket and USNS Bowditch—are already docked at Subic Bay as of Monday. These are to be joined by the USS BHR, USS Green Bay and USS Germantown in amphibious landing exercises on October 4 to 12. At least 1,400 US servicemen are set to participate in the exercises.

Meanwhile, two C-130 Hercules aircraft with 100 Airmen from the 374th Air Wing (Japan) and 36th Contingency Response Group (Guam) are in Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base in Lapu-lapu City.

“The CPP condemns the US and its military for using the Philippines as a platform to conduct war preparations and invasion maneuvers and to project military power and dominance in the guise of conducting so-called joint military exercises.”

“These war exercises also undermine efforts of the Duterte regime to work out a peaceful settlement of the overlapping claims at the South China Sea,” said the CPP. “These counteract the desire of the people to demilitarize the international trade route and guarantee equal access to everyone.”

“To justify the presence of their military forces, the US claims that they were invited by the AFP and seek to develop so-called ‘interoperability’ to project an illusion of equality,” said the CPP. “So-called interoperability, in reality, is how Philippine troops are made to serve as porters of operating US troops, buy and operate their old warships from US military junkyards and be treated to a tour of their spanking war vessels docked in Philippine waters,” said the CPP.

The CPP reiterated its call for the abrogation of the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty after GRP President Duterte pointed out that despite having such an agreement, there are no assurances that the US will come to the aid of the Philippines in case of a war.”

“The MDT is the mother of all unequal military agreements which justifies the presence of aggressive and interventionist US troops,” said the CPP. “Not only does it not assure that the US will aid the Philippines, it is also a guarantee that the Philippines will get dragged into US wars such as how the country served as launching pad for US interventionist wars in Korea, Vietnam as well as Iran.”

“That there is mutual defense between the Philippines and the US is a big lie. There never was and there will never be mutual defense between the Filipino people and US imperialism because there are no common interests shared between the oppressed and their oppressors.”

http://www.cpp.ph/cpp-seeks-halt-upcoming-us-military-war-exercises-abrogation-mdt/