Friday, May 5, 2023

CPP/Ang Bayan Daily News & Analysis: Magsasaka, pinatay ng 94th IB; anak nito, pinagbabaril din

Ang Bayan Daily News & Analysis online propaganda posted to the PRWC Newsroom, the blog site of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Information Bureau (May 4, 2022): Magsasaka, pinatay ng 94th IB; anak nito, pinagbabaril din (Farmer, killed by 94th IB; his son, was shot)
 





May 04, 2023

Isang magsasaka ang dinampot ng 94th IB mula sa kanyang bahay sa Sityo Paloypoy, Barangay Buenavista sa Himamaylan City kahapon at saka ginapos, ininteroga at pinatay sa pamamaril ng mga sundalo. Kinilala ang biktima bilang si Crispin Tingal Jr.

Si Tingal ay isang sibilyang magsasaka sa kanilang lugar. Kauuwi lamang niya sa kanilang bahay mula sa isang seminar sa Kabankalan City na inilunsad ng lokal na gubyerno nang dinampot ng mga sundalo bandang alas-5 ng hapon.

Hindi pa nakuntento, hinabol din ng mga sundalo ang anak ng biktima at pinagbabaril. Nakatakas siya at nakaiwas sa pagpapaulan ng bala ng mga berdugo.

Ayon sa ulat ng grupo sa karapatang-tao na September 21 Movement South Negros, kasalukuyang nasa sentro ng ebakwasyon ang pamilya para makaiwas sa panggigipit ng mga sundalo. Nasa ebakwasyon din ang hindi bababa sa walong pamilya na apektado ng karahasang militar ng 94th IB.

Hindi pa rin umano natutunton ang kinaroroonan ng bangkay ng biktimang si Tingal.

https://philippinerevolution.nu/angbayan/magsasaka-pinatay-ng-94th-ib-anak-nito-pinagbabaril-din/

CPP/Ang Bayan Daily News & Analysis: Mga rebolusyonaryo at progresibo, muling sinensor ng Twitter at Facebook

Ang Bayan Daily News & Analysis online propaganda posted to the PRWC Newsroom, the blog site of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Information Bureau (May 4, 2022): Mga rebolusyonaryo at progresibo, muling sinensor ng Twitter at Facebook (Revolutionaries and progressives, once again censored by Twitter and Facebook)
 




May 04, 2023

Sunud-sunod na sinuspinde o binantaang isuspinde ng Twitter at Meta, kumpanyang may-ari ng Facebook, ang rebolusyonaryo at progresibong mga akawnt sa mga platfom nito mula nakaraang linggo.

Pinakahuli dito ang pag-restrict o paglimita ng Meta sa Facebook account ng Bulatlat kahapon, Mayo 3, sa araw mismo ng malayang pamamahayag. Ayon sa alternatibong website, nakatanggap ito ng pabatid bandang alas-5:30 ng hapon na nagbabanta na matatanggal ang pahina dahil sa mga “paglabag” nito sa “community standards.” Arbitraryong tinanggal ng Meta ang isang panayam nito kay Benito Tiamzon, yumaong tagapangulo ng Komiteng Tagapagpaganap ng Komite Sentral ng Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas na isinagawa noong panahon ng usapang pangkapayapaan sa ilalim ng rehimeng Duterte.

Bago nito, sabay-sabay na sinuspinde ng Twitter ang mag akawnt ng Philippine Revolution Web Central (@prwc_info3), Ang Bayan (@angbayan1969) at ni Marco Valbuena, upisyal sa impormasyon ng PKP (@marco_cpp). Kasamang tinanggal sa ere ang ilampu pang mga progresibo at rebolusyonaryong akawnt sa loob at labas ng bansa. Ito ay matapos lumaganap sa mga platform na ito ang anunsyo ng PKP ng pagkamatay ng mga lider nito na sina Benito at Wilma Tiamzon at panawagan para imbestigahan ang brutal na pagpaslang sa kanila ng mga pwersa ng AFP at ng US.

Kinundena ni Valbuena ang walang katapusang pangsesensor ng Twitter sa nilalaman ng rebolusyonayong kilusan. Aniya, bahagi iyon ng permanenteng panggigipit laban sa PKP at iba pang grupo para patahimikin ang mga pwersang anti-imperyalista at pigilang lumaganap ang rebolusyonaryong mensahe sa bansa.

Ang panggigipit ng Twitter ay tiyak na sinulsulan ng gubyernong Marcos at US, ani Valbuena. “Inilalantad nito na huwad ang sinasabing ‘absolutong kalayaan’ na diuamano’y paninindigan ng Twitter, at bahagi ng tumitinding panunupil sa kalayaan sa pamamahayag sa ilalim ng pandaigdigang paglakas ng pasismo.”

Mula pa 2018 paulit-ulit na sinisikil ng Twitter at Facebook, gayundin ng Youtube, Google at iba pang social media platforms ang PRWC at ang buong lambat ng mga rebolusyonaryong akawnt kung saan dumadaloy ang balita ng brutalidad ng AFP sa kanayunan at paglilinaw ng Bagong Hukbong Bayan sa mali at mapanirang mga pahayag ng AFP laban dito.

Isinasangkalan ng mga mga platform na ito ang arbitraryo at di makatarungang pagbansag ng US at papet na gubyerno ng Pilipinas sa PKP at BHB bilang mga “terorista” para bigyan-katwiran ang pangsesensor nito sa mga usaping umaapekto sa malaking bahagi ng mamamayang Pilipino. Nitong huli, higit pang pinahigpit ng Twitter ang pangsesensor at arbitraryong pagtatanggal ng mga post sa tinawag nitong mga “dog whistle” o mga post na diumano’y “nakakoda” para “ilusot” ang mga “panawagan para sa karahansan ng mga ekstremista.”

Tulad sa nakaraan, iginigiit ng rebolusyonaryong kilusan ang karapatan nito sa malayang pamamaayag at pagpapahayag para isiwalat ang tunay na kalagayan ng mamamayang Pilipino sa mga platform na ito. Sa ngayon, maaaring i-follow ang PRWC sa Twitter sa @prwc_info4. Maaari ding tingnan ang website nito sa philippinerevolution.nu at blog na prwcinfonewsroom.wordpress.com

https://philippinerevolution.nu/angbayan/mga-rebolusyonaryo-at-progresibo-muling-sinensor-ng-twitter-at-facebook/

CPP: Marcos-Biden meet marks advent of heightened US domination

Propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Philippine Revolution Web Central (PRWC) Website (May 5, 2023): Marcos-Biden meet marks advent of heightened US domination

Communist Party of the Philippines
May 05, 2023

The recent Marcos visit and meeting with US president Biden cemented the US strategy of using the Philippines as its military outpost in the Asia-Pacific in line with its intensified push to strengthen its hegemony through expanded military presence in the region. It also serves as a historical juncture in reinforcing the status of the Philippines as a US semicolony.

The visit comes a few weeks after Marcos completely acceded to the US plan to build four more (in addition to the existing five) military bases under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), and a few days after the US military held the Balikatan war exercises in the Philippines in one of the biggest show of force in recent years.

Biden expressed extreme satisfaction with Marcos cooperation with the US geopolitical strategy. He told Marcos, he “couldn’t think of a better partner to have than you.”

The Marcos visit served to secure the Philippines as one of the key links in its First Island Chain strategy of encircling China and provoking a military conflict. The planned US military bases will complete the US plan to build a $27 billion network of long-range missiles within these islands that are closest to China.

The results of Marcos’ US visit and meeting with Biden mark the advent of even greater US control and domination of the Philippines. It produced agreements and programs that all aim to heighten US military intervention, strengthen military control, as well as reinforce US economic and cultural domination.

Biden’s declaration of “partnership” with Marcos is an unequivocal endorsement of his fascist and corrupt regime. Marcos’ less than one year in power is already marked by widespread violations of human rights. There is rising number of cases of extrajudicial killings, abductions and disappearances, torture, illegal arrests and other crimes perpetrated by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) under the US-directed counterinsurgency campaign.

During the visit, the Marcos and US governments forged the US-Philippine Bilateral Defense Guidelines (BDG) which reinforces the Mutual Defense Treaty, the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) and other unequal military agreements. It further ties the Philippines to the bellicose foreign and defense policies of the US.

The BDG obliges the Philippines to stand against the enemies of the US, and takes away the country’s right to an independent foreign policy and amity with all nations. Point 14, under the first part, specifically, will compel the Philippines to side by the US against China, in the event of armed hostilities between the US and China.

Under the Guidelines, the US reiterates “support for AFP modernization” which has long served as a program to perpetuate Philippine military dependence on the US. The US has used foreign military financing to secure the loyalty of military generals through fat kickbacks in government military purchases, as well as to dump obsolete or previous generation US military hardware for counterinsurgency. To reward Marcos and the AFP, the US promised to transfer to the AFP at least four old patrol vessels as well as three C-130 aircrafts. This is in addition to previous plans to supply the Marcos regime with jetfighters, artillery, bombs, bullets.

It aims to “institutionalize defense priorities” which aims to strengthen “interoperability” to enhance the system of US command and control of the AFP. The Balikatan exercises and the hundreds of training exercises being conducted by the US and AFP year-round all seek to effectively turn the Philippine military into an adjunct of the US military.

The Marcos visit also served to further push US dominance over the Philippine economy and aggressive plans for American big capitalists to invest and earn profits in the country by exploiting cheap labor and taking advantage of tax-free operations and other perks being offered by Marcos. Big bourgeois compradors who accompanied Marcos offered their services as partners for US capitalists. The US government has been pushing the Philippines and other countries to allow US companies involved in untested modular nuclear reactors to invest and experiment with their technology. Before leaving for the US, Marcos pledged to allow American banks and corporations to engage in underwater extraction of rare minerals as well as expansion of investments in local agribusiness which aim to carry out large-scale operations.

The US government also announced plans to spend large amounts of money to expand programs that aim to inculcate the Pax Americana worldview among Filipinos, especially among the Filipino students and youth. Over $100 million will be spent in the next ten years to expand scholarship programs such as the Fulbright, student exchanges, “youth leadership trainings,” and organizing “friendship societies,” as well as USAID programs for curriculum development, faculty training, educational infrastructure building, and so on. This amount represents globally one of the US’ biggest funding for to expand and intensify its campaign to colonize the minds of the Filipino people.

The Marcos visit to the US was justly condemned by patriotic and democratic forces of the Filipino people. They exposed Marcos’ subservience to the US and denounced his connivance with the US hegemonic schemes to strengthen and project military power in Asia. They raised their voices to US provocations of of inter-imperialist military conflict with China which risk pulling the Philippines into a war not to its interest and putting into danger the Filipino people’s lives and freedom.

The US push to build more military bases in the Philippines under the EDCA, as well as other secret or undisclosed facilities, is rousing the Filipino people’s patriotic outrage, as these are gross representations of US intervention and domination. It is also drawing their attention to the long-standing unequal relationship between the US and the Philippines—one between an imperialist country and a subjugated semicolony, which has existed even since the US “granted” the Philippines nominal independence in 1946, after close to half a century of colonial rule.

During close to eight decades now, the US monopoly capitalists, in connivance with local big bourgeois compradors and big landlords, have plundered the country’s wealth and resources and condemned the Philippines to a state of economic backwardness and dependence. The neocolonial or semicolonial status of the Philippines has been perpetuated through a slew of unequal economic, trade and military agreements and through the force of armed suppression using its client-state.

There is the rising patriotic demand for the abrogation of the MDT, VFA, EDCA, the BDG and all unequal military treaties. They call for a genuine independent foreign policy and demand that the Philippines be freed from US foreign and defense policy and wars.

The Filipino people, especially the Filipino youth, must continue to fight for genuine national freedom and democracy and struggle to put an end to the economic, political, and military status of the Philippines as a US semicolony.

They must persevere along the path of national democratic resistance along which several generations of Filipinos have marched, and where thousands upon thousands gave all their lives in the fight for the people’s aspiration for national and social liberation.

https://philippinerevolution.nu/statements/marcos-biden-meet-marks-advent-of-heightened-us-domination/

NTFELCAC: The government aims to achieve inclusive and sustainable peace and development

Posted to the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTFELCAC) Facebook Page ( (May 1, 2023): The government aims to achieve inclusive and sustainable peace and development

The government aims to achieve inclusive and sustainable peace and development through good governance and whole-nation participation, ultimately ending local armed conflict. The NTF-ELCAC, particularly the secretariat, is committed to coordinating and collaborating government programs and efforts. The strategy involves delivering basic social services to conflict-affected and vulnerable areas.



https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=587929323439184&set=a.199097248989062

https://www.facebook.com/ntfelcac/

NTFELCAC: No Plans to Dismantle NTF ELCAC

Posted to the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTFELCAC) Facebook Page ( (May 6, 2023): No Plans to Dismantle NTF ELCAC


"NO PLANS TO DISMANTLE NTF ELCAC. President Marcos firmly committed to ending Communist terrorism in the country through whole-of-nation approach. Let's work together towards total victory over Communist terrorism." 




https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=591252209773562&set=a.199097248989062

https://www.facebook.com/ntfelcac/

AFP-CRS: READ; Former NPA leads to additional discovery of arms cache in Batangas

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook Page (May 4, 2023): READ; Former NPA leads to additional discovery of arms cache in Batangas

Troops from 59th Infantry “Protector” Battalion acted on the information and conducted combat operation at Brgy Humayingan Lian, Batangas after a former NPA leader revealed that arms cache was hidden in the area. Among the items recovered by the troops were: one Improvised Explosive Device, 39 pcs of 5.56 ammunition, one small telescope and some personal belongings.

#teamCRS | #AFPyoucanTRUST | #supportourtroops
https://www.facebook.com/.../a.14696100.../3654968851414251/




AFP Radio DWDD

Former NPA leads to additional discovery of arms cache in Batangas

CAMP CAPINPIN, Rizal- Another information from apprehended NPA leader has led to additional discovery of arms cache in Lian Batangas on Sunday, April 30, 2023.

Troops from 59th Infantry “Protector” Battalion acted on the information and conducted combat operation at Brgy Humayingan Lian, Batangas after a former NPA leader revealed that arms cache was hidden in the area. Among the items recovered by the troops were: one Improvised Explosive Device, 39 pcs of 5.56 ammunition, one small telescope and some personal belongings.

It can be recalled that on March, alias Sayko, was arrested by the government forces during an operation and tipped-off secluded IED’s and landmines in some parts of Batangas on April on the location of explosives purposely hidden by the rebels for their raid last January.

“We are grateful for the trust of our kababayans towards the LGUs, key stakeholders and security partners in the government’s peace efforts. We have prevented the Communist Terrorist Groups in using the IEDs and other war materials to sow terror in our communities. We urge the remaining rebels to return to the folds of the law and heed the call for peace, and work with the government for the future of their families.”, 2nd Infantry “Jungle Fighter” Division Commander Maj. General Roberto S. Capulong said in a statement.

#AFPyoucanTRUST
#supportourtroops
#SundaloSalamatsaSerbisyo

https://www.facebook.com/dwdd1134/photos/a.1469610063283485/3654968851414251/

https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/

Engkuentro sa sundalo ug rebelde, 3 ka armas nailog sa sundalo

Posted to NewsLine Philippines (May 5, 2023): Engkuentro sa sundalo ug rebelde, 3 ka armas nailog sa sundalo (By Paul Palacio) (Encounter between soldiers and rebels, 3 weapons were seized by the soldiers)



BUTUAN CITY – Igo lang girespondihan sa mga sundalo nga miyembro sa 29th Infantry “Matatag” Battalion ang report sa mga sibilyan sa presensiya sa mga miyembro sa Communist Terrorist Group nga NPA sa Sitio Mandalayag, Barangay Pianing, Butuan City nga nagapangayo og pagkaon ug ubang supply sa mga tawo.

Pag-abot sa pwersa sa mga sundalo sa Sitio Tubuhon, Barangay Bugsukan, Butuan City nahitabo ang 40 minutos nga giyera batok sa gibana-banaang 10 ka miyembro sa NPA nga gipangulohan ni Arnel Baguis alyas Dindo/Kadoy/Anok sa Sandatahang Yunit Propaganda 21c, Guerilla Front 21, Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee.

Matud ni LtCol Cresencio Gargar ang Commanding Officer sa 29th IB nga gihimo lang nila ang combat operation tungod sa report sa mga sibilyan sa lugar.

“Rest assured that we will intensify our pursuit operations to chase down the fleeing CTGs who scampered in different directions. I call on the members of the CPP-NPA to lay down your arms and surrender peacefully for the sake of your families. The only remaining option for you now is to return to the folds of the law and mainstream society to live a peaceful normal life. We will do what our mandate in eradicating terrorist groups to maintain peace and order and foster development in Agusan del Norte.” matud ni LtCol. Gargar

Walay gireport nga naay nasamdan sa duha ka grupo

pero nakarekober ang mga sundalo og 2 ka AK 47 rifles, 1 M16A1 rifle,assorted nga mga bala,pagkaon ug mga subersibong dokumento sa NPA nga makatabang sa mga umaabot pa nga operasyon sa mga sundalo.

https://newsline.ph/bisaya-kini/2023/05/05/engkuentro-sa-sundalo-ug-rebelde-3-ka-armas-nailog-sa-sundalo/?fbclid=IwAR1Mj5_dxlXWNW5KkCSoWH2m7SnPspCeLqLoBjaunwB6TkIy5OYaLi4l3uQ

Kalanaw News: Namatay na NPA Balaban Kalinga, Nakilala na mga labi nasa pamilya na

From Kalanaw News (May 5, 2023): Namatay na NPA Balaban Kalinga, Nakilala na mga labi nasa pamilya na (NPA Balaban Kalinga has died, identified remains have been given to the family)



CAMP MELCHOR F DELA CRUZ, Upi, Gamu, Isabela – Tinukoy na ang pagkakakilanlan ng napatay NPA sa nangyaring bakbakan sa Barangay Poswoy, Balbalan, Kalinga noong ika-3 ng Mayo 2023.

Positibong tinukoy ng mismong kapamilya ang napaslang na NPA member na si Baliwag Boccol o kilala sa kilusan sa alyas na ‘Ka Bombo’. Napag-alaman na siya ay miyembro ng Squad Uno ng Komiteng Larangang Gerilya Baggas, Ilocos Cordillera Regional Committee. Siya ay mula sa Brgy Nambucayan, Tabuk City, Kalinga.

Pasado alas sais kagabi (May 04, 2023) nang ipasakamay ng 50th Infantry Battalion ang mga labi ni Boccol sa Balbalan Municipal Police Station. Agad itong dinala sa TAMPCO Funeral Homes, Dagupan, Tabuk City, Kalinga. Saksi sa pagpapasakamay sa mga labi ng NPA si PCPT MARTINEZ, Chief Of Police ng Balbalan MPS at PCpl Sano ng RMFB kasama ang ilang mge residente.

Ang kamatayan ni Boccol ay pinakabagong naidagdag sa listahan ng mga pangalan na humantong sa malagim na kamatayan dahil maling prinsipyong ikinintal sa kanyang isipan ng Bagong Hukbong Bayan ng Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas.

Nakilala ang 67 taong gulang na NPA na masayahin at palangiti, ngunit patay na si Baliwag Boccol. Kailanman hindi na makikita ng kanyang mga kapamilya at kaibigan ang masayahing personalidad. Hindi na maririnig ng kanyag kamag-anak ang kinasasabikang malulutong na halakhak. Lahat ng ito ay minsanang ninakaw ng maling ideolihiya ng CPP – NPA.

Sa kabila ng tagumpay ng kampanya ng kasundaluhan laban sa insurhensiya sa lalawigan ng Kalinga ay ikinalungkot ng pamunuan ng Kalinga Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC) ang kamatayan ni Boccol.

Dahil dito, muling nanawagan ang ng Kalinga PTF-ELCAC sa mga iilan na natitira pang kasapin ng CPP-NPA na tanggapin ang sinserong alok ng pamahalaan para makapagbagong buhay, matamasa ang tunay na kapayapaan kasama ang pamilyang matagal nang umaasam sa kanilang pa-uwi para madama ang init ng kanilang mga yakap.

Samantala, narekober ng 50th Infantry Battalion sa ilalim ng 503rd Infantry Brigade ang 13 bunkers ng humigit kumulang 20 rebelde. Nasamsam sa pinagyarihan ng engkwentro ang isang M16 rifle, dalawang short magazine na kargado ng bala, apat na backpacks, isang Improvised Explosive Device Detonator, tatlong Blasting Caps, apat na Command Detonated Explosives, Medical Kits at mga subersibong dokyumento.







[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace in the Philippines This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.]

https://www.kalinawnews.com/%F0%9D%90%8D%F0%9D%90%80%F0%9D%90%8C%F0%9D%90%80%F0%9D%90%93%F0%9D%90%80%F0%9D%90%98-%F0%9D%90%8D%F0%9D%90%80-%F0%9D%90%8D%F0%9D%90%8F%F0%9D%90%80-%F0%9D%90%92%F0%9D%90%80-%F0%9D%90%81%F0%9D%90%80/?fbclid=IwAR28EFA5I-GKIsqLqRqSbSzEroCZy2mCz_1omF3TL4DTWSdkK1mnUeG3zAM

Former rebel surrenders ammo to 1st PPMFC

From Palawan News (May 5, 2023): Former rebel surrenders ammo to 1st PPMFC (By Ruil Alabi)



Rebel returnee “Ka Mark” has surrendered rebel owned explosives to the 1st Palawan Provincial Mobile Force Company (1st PPMFC) in Sofronio EspaƱola on Wednesday, May 3.

The weaponry consisted of two live rifle grenades and a grenade launcher ammunition (40MM).

In March, Ka Mark was the first to surrender and return to the government fold with the encouragement of his family.

He was an alleged member of the Bienvenido Vallever Command of the New People’s Army but had long been inactive and chose to return home to Brooke’s Point.

It was revealed that Ka Mark joined the NPA in 2012 and was sent for training in Paly Island in Taytay for three months in 2015.

According to the 1st PPMFC, he was trained to handle firearms and was supplied with weapons to be used as an NPA fighter in the province.


After surrendering, Ka Mark was still subjected to continuous monitoring and debriefing to ensure his safety and to gain a better understanding of the importance of returning to the government.

https://palawan-news.com/former-rebel-surrenders-ammo-to-1st-ppmfc/

EXPLAINER: Why have Philippines, US issued defense treaty guidelines?

Posted to Rappler (May 5, 2023): EXPLAINER: Why have Philippines, US issued defense treaty guidelines? (By REUTERS)



Guidelines issued by the Pentagon now specifically mention that mutual defense commitments would be invoked if there were an armed attack on either country 'anywhere in the South China Sea'

The United States and the Philippines have agreed on new guidelines for their 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, following multiple requests by Manila to make clear the conditions under which Washington would come to its defense.
Why did the Philippines want clarification?

Though the United States has reassured the Philippines their defense partnership is “ironclad”, Manila has argued the seven-decade-old treaty needs updating to reflect a different global security environment.

The renewed push under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who is in Washington this week, came as the Philippines complains of an increase in aggressive behavior in the South China Sea by Chinese coast guard and fishing vessels suspected of being maritime militia.

The Philippines, which relies heavily on energy imports, is also keen to start exploiting natural gas reserves in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) that China also lays claim to.

In seeking clarity about when its former colonial ruler would come to its rescue, the Philippines wanted a clear commitment from its ally and for China to back off.
What has changed?

Guidelines issued by the Pentagon now specifically mention that mutual defense commitments would be invoked if there were an armed attack on either country “anywhere in the South China Sea.” Another addition specifies that coast guard vessels are among those protected.

It also mentions the need to work together considering “asymmetric, hybrid, and irregular warfare and gray zone tactics”.

The phrase “gray zone tactics” is often used to describe China’s use of its coast guard and fleet of fishing vessels to assert its vast territorial claims in the South China Sea through non-military means, including blockades and intimidation and moves to disrupt fishing and energy exploration.

China maintains its coast guard operates lawfully in its waters.

Why now?

Tensions with China have increased lately. The Philippines last month accused China’s coast guard of “dangerous maneuvers” and “aggressive tactics” during a Philippine coast guard patrol near the Second Thomas Shoal, a reef occupied by a small Filipino navy contingent and located 105 nautical miles (195 km) off its coast.

In February, the Philippines said a Chinese ship had directed a military-grade laser at one of its navy resupply vessels in the same area.

The Philippines and some its neighbors have in recent years complained about the conduct of the Chinese coast guard and fishermen, after smaller boats were rammed, blocked, or blasted with water cannon.

China, which claims sovereignty over islands, reefs, and waters as far as 1,500 km (932 miles) from its coast, including in the EEZs of five neighboring countries, often accuses other vessels of provocations or trespassing.

How does this change the situation?

Knowing the circumstances in which the United States is treaty-bound to intervene could be a deterrent that makes Beijing rethink some of its South China Sea strategy to avoid confrontation with US forces, including the conduct of its coast guard.

But China could also use its vessels to test the limits of the US defense commitment and try to undermine the alliance, putting Washington in a tricky position where it may be reluctant to step in through fear of an escalation or miscalculation.

Some analysts have argued the Philippines and United States were better served by a more ambiguous mutual defense treaty.

https://www.rappler.com/nation/explainer-philippines-united-states-guidelines-mutual-defense-treaty/

Marcos says Philippines bases could be ‘useful’ if Taiwan attacked

Posted to Rappler (May 5, 2023): Marcos says Philippines bases could be ‘useful’ if Taiwan attacked (By REUTERS)



President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. does not respond directly when asked whether the US could place weapons at the bases if China attacked Taiwan

WASHINGTON DC, USA – Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Thursday that granting US access to Philippine military bases was a defensive step that would be “useful” if China attacked Taiwan.

Marcos, speaking at the end of a four-day visit to Washington that included a summit with President Joe Biden and an agreement to update the countries’ nearly 72-year defensive alliance, did not respond directly when asked whether the United States could place weapons at the bases if China attacked Taiwan.

Marcos told Reuters the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) reached with the United States in 2014 was originally conceived to improve disaster responses.

“Now there’s an additional aspect to it,” he said. “And that is…tensions across the Taiwan Straits seem to be continuing to increase. Then the safety of our Filipino nationals in Taiwan becomes of primordial importance.”



“And so these EDCA sites will also prove to be useful for us should that terrible occurrence come about,” he added, referring to an invasion of Taiwan.

A February agreement to allow the US to use four additional Philippines military bases is highly sensitive for Manila, which wants closer military ties to the United States without alarming China, its largest trading partner.

China has said that decision was “stoking the fire” of regional tension.

Marcos said Washington “has not proposed any kind of action for the Philippines in terms of taking part in the defense of Taiwan.”

“It’s of a defensive nature and maybe a civil-defense nature, when I talk about the disasters and the evacuation of our Filipino nationals,” he said.

Concern about China

Marcos came to Washington seeking clarity on the extent of Washington’s commitment to protect his country amid rising tensions in the South China Sea, where Manila and Beijing have rival claims, as well as tensions over Taiwan and North Korea.

The trip, which included the first White House visit by a Philippine leader in 10 years, marked a sharp change in tone from the administration of his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte, who turned the Philippines away from its old ally and sought closer ties with China.

Experts say the US, for its part, sees the Philippines as a potential location for weapons to counter a Chinese amphibious invasion of Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said after a meeting with Philippine officials last month it was “too early” to discuss what assets the United States would like to station at Philippine bases.

Speaking earlier on Thursday, May 4, to a US think thank, Marcos said he told China’s foreign minister that the EDCA sites were not intended for “offensive action.” He also said Washington had not asked the Philippines to provide troops if there were a war over Taiwan.

Biden said on Monday, May 1, that the US commitment to the defense of its ally was “ironclad,” including in the South China Sea, and that the guidelines issued on Wednesday laid out treaty commitments if either side were attacked in the South China Sea.
Joint patrols to start next year

Marcos said that Manila had agreed in principle to joint South China Sea patrols with the United States, Australia, Japan “and even South Korea” and that he expected them to start this year. He said the patrols would help preserve freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, where China has a growing military presence.

He said Manila was also discussing a trilateral defense treaty with the United States and Japan. Marcos did not specify what that agreement would entail.

Marcos said the Philippines had “made a good start” in talks with China about contentious fishing rights.

“I explained to President Xi that last year was the first year in the entire history of the Philippines where we had to import fish, which is a ridiculous situation for a country that consists of 7,100-plus islands,” he said.

“I told President Xi…perhaps we can take the little step of allowing, once again, our fishermen to ply their trade,” he added.

Marcos also said his country and China needed to resolve disputes over oil and gas exploration as quickly as possible.

https://www.rappler.com/nation/marcos-jr-philippines-bases-useful-if-taiwan-attacked/

Displaced Himamaylan residents return home

From the Visayan Daily Star (May 6, 2023): Displaced Himamaylan residents return home (By GILBERT P. BAYORAN)


Lt. Col. Van Donald Almonte, 94IB commander, checks on the medical condition of an injured soldier in a hospital.* PA photo

More than 60 families displaced by a gun battle between government troops and New People’s Army rebels on Wednesday in Sitio Ulo-Tuburan, Brgy. Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, have returned to their respective homes, a day after the encounter, according to acting Army spokesman Capt. Raymart Africa.

The affected families fled to neighboring Brgy. Hilamonan in Kabankalan City, where they had an overnight stay at the barangay covered court, and were provided with temporary shelter and relief goods by government social workers.

The gun battle between 94th Infantry Battalion soldiers and 15 NPA rebels, believed to members of the Sentro De Grabidad Platoon of Central Negros 2 under the Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor, lasted about 20 minutes, claimed the life of a local insurgent, injured two Army soldiers and a civilian, who was hit by a stray bullet.

Africa yesterday identified the slain rebel as Crispin Tingal, alias Ka Padon, 36, of Sitio Dangalon, Brgy. Hilamonan, Kabankalan City, whose remains were claimed by his family from a funeral parlor.


Africa said that the fleeing rebels left behind Tingal at the encounter site, while government troops also recovered an M653 automatic assault rifle with a magazine containing ammunition, assorted ammunition for M14 rifle, 12-gauge shotgun, and .38 caliber revolver, among other personal items, assorted foodstuff, and subversive documents.

Injured were two soldiers, identified as PFC Denyl Reyes and PFC Dionald Dumagat, as well as Maria Fe Caboctolan, 59, who was hit by a stray bullet. All were reported to be in stable condition.

In a statement, Brig. Gen. Orlando Edralin, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, lauded the prompt response of 94IB soldiers to the presence of an armed group in the area, which was relayed to them by civilians.

https://visayandailystar.com/displaced-himamaylan-residents-return-home/

BAYAN Negros condemns red-tagging of transport strike

From the Visayan Daily Star (May 6, 2023): BAYAN Negros condemns red-tagging of transport strike (By GILBERT P. BAYORAN)

Militant organization BAYAN Negros yesterday issued a statement condemning the call of NTF-ELCAC spokesman Jeffrey Celis, whom they described as a serial red tagger, to arrest the leaders of the upcoming transport strike in Bacolod City.

In a statement, BAYAN Negros said that Celis alleges that the transport strike would be “economic sabotage.” It added that Celis has long been a propaganda mouthpiece for smearing legal and legitimate mass organizations such as BAYAN.

Celis, who formerly carried the alias of Ka Erick, had confessed to be a member of underground movements and militant groups for 30 years.

Celis’ red-tagging of BAYAN Negros and transport group UNDOC PISTON is a desperate attempt to minimize the jeepney drivers’ and operators’ right to dissent, the statement said.


The Bacolod Alliance of Commuters, Operators and Drivers, United Negros Drivers and Operators Center, as well as the Negros Bacolod Transport Coalition are spearheading the transport strike on May 8, in Bacolod City.

However, according to the leaders of two other transport groups, Sentrong Samahan ng Tsuper at Operators (SSTONE) and the Federation of Bacolod City Drivers Association (FEBACDA) have no plans to join the transport strike.

BAYAN Negros said that the planned strike is a legitimate form of action as the jeepney drivers and operators are the aggrieved parties of the jeepney modernization scheme and thus, the strike will push through.

It added that Celis’ calls to arrest them have no grounds, as his demands for state forces to arrest transport workers, amid a crisis threatening their very livelihood, is a greater form of sabotage than a legitimate and justified strike.

The transport groups spearheading the transport strike, are demanding the immediate implementation of the M.O. 2023-017, which allows all traditional routes to extend the provisional authority until December 31, 2023 and the suspension and review for amendment of City Ordinance 966 for the protection of jeepney drivers, operators and commuters.

The group also called on commuters to support the strike as the jeepney modernization plan would also affect fares and routes. With a broad, united front, the state will have no choice but to listen to the demands of the people, they said.

[Retired Analyst Note: BAYAN Negros is the Negros chapter of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN-New Patriotic Alliance), the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) main umbrella multisectoral front organization. The United Negros Driver and Operators Center is the local chapter of the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON-Solidarity of Drivers and Operators' Organizations Nationwide), an umbrella labor front. Hence the acronym UNDOC-PISTON. The commies don't like it when you call them out for who they really are. When it happens they scream at the top of their lungs that they are being "red-tagged".]

https://visayandailystar.com/bayan-negros-condemns-red-tagging-of-transport-strike/

Bongbong Marcos: PH-US relationship back on ‘normal role’

Posted to the Philippine Daily Inquirer (May 5, 2023): Bongbong Marcos: PH-US relationship back on ‘normal role’ (By: Daphne Galvez - Reporter)



WHITE HOUSE WELCOME: US President Joe Biden guides President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. through the West Wing colonnade on their way to the Oval Office at the White House in Washington on May 1, 2023. MALACAƑANG PHOTO

WASHINGTON D.C., United States — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday (Friday, Manila time) said that relations between the Philippines and the US are “back on the normal role of partnership” with the recent “steady exchange of official engagements” at all levels of the government.

In a forum hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Marcos pointed out that these official engagements include his first meeting with US President Joe Biden in September last year in New York, which is the first visit of a sitting Philippine president to Washington in over 10 years.

“I do not quite know how that developed that way as that has been in the case, but we are back on our normal role of partnership, working together hand in hand,” he said in his speech.



During his visit to the US, Marcos said Manila and Washington have committed to deepening their ties with each other on various areas of cooperation, such as defense, and security among others.

Relations between the US and the Philippines soured after Marcos’ predecessor, former President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement between the two nations.

The order came after the US suspended the visa of former top cop and now Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who is known to be Duterte’s staunchest ally.

Duterte had not once stepped into the US during his six-year stint as the chief executive, saying he would never visit the country.

Marcos earlier said that the relations between the US and the Philippines endured despite “turbulent” times, saying that it goes through various ups and downs as in any relationship or friendship.

The President then noted that the world currently faces many “enormous and complex” challenges, including climate change, food, water and energy crises, and terrorism.

This is why, he said, he is calling to “evolve” the alliance between Manila and Washington.

“We are grappling with both new and traditional threats to our peoples’ security, nowhere more acutely felt than in the Indo-Pacific region, and the Philippines sits squarely at the heart of the Indo-Pacific region,” the President said.

“It is for this reason that I called for evolving our alliance—to make it more responsive to present and emerging challenges,” he said.

During a meeting in the White House last Monday, US President Biden reaffirmed the US’ “ironclad” commitment to the defense of the Philippines, including in the South China Sea.

This means that any attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, and aircraft in the Pacific, including the South China Sea, would trigger US mutual defense commitments under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty.

During Marcos’ Washington visit, Washington and Manila’s defense departments finalized their bilateral defense guidelines, wherein both Philippines and the US agreed to expand cooperation on maritime security, and it will not be limited to joint patrols.

RELATED STORY:

Biden to Marcos: I can’t think of a better partner to have than you

https://globalnation.inquirer.net/214637/ph-us-relationship-back-on-normal-role







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PH, US air forces train in counter-air operations

From the Manila Bulletin (May 5, 2023): PH, US air forces train in counter-air operations (By MARTIN SADONGDONG)

AT A GLANCE
  • Philippine Air Force (PAF) and United States Air Force (USAF) pilots have worked together to enhance their interoperability in counter-air operations.
  • This was part of the fourth day of the Cope Thunder Philippines (CT Ph) Exercise 23-1.
  • The PAF’s FA-50PH advanced jet trainers operated by the 7th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 5th Fighter Wing flew over the Luzon mainland with the USAF’s F-16 fighter jets operated by their 14th Fighter Squadron for a series of sorties.
Philippine Air Force (PAF) and United States Air Force (USAF) pilots have worked together to enhance their interoperability in counter-air operations as part of the fourth day of the Cope Thunder Philippines (CT Ph) Exercise 23-1 on Friday, May 5.



(Courtesy of Philippine Air Force)

The PAF’s FA-50PH advanced jet trainers operated by the 7th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 5th Fighter Wing flew over the Luzon mainland with the USAF’s F-16 fighter jets operated by their 14th Fighter Squadron for a series of sorties.

“These missions were designed to enhance training for a wide range of counter-air operations scenarios,” said Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo, PAF spokesperson.

Counter-air operations can be classified as defensive and offensive.

For the first week of Cope Thunder, the PAF and USAF pilots will focus on defensive counter air (DCA) operations which include the identification, tracking, and interception of enemy aircraft in the vicinity of friendly forces.



(Courtesy of Philippine Air Force)

“This joint effort between the two Air Forces allows a comprehensive approach to the exercise, thus, enhancing the pilots’ skills and unit interoperability for future joint operations,” Castillo stated.

The offensive counter-air operations (OCA) will be held during the second phase of the exercise from July 2 to 21. This will entail drills focusing on neutralizing enemy aircraft and ground targets.

The PAF and USAF personnel also conducted a subject matter expert exchange (SMEE) on close quarter combat (CQC) operations at the Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, Pampanga.



(Courtesy of Philippine Air Force)

The training was designed to equip participants with the fundamental tactics, techniques, and procedures to conduct team level, structure-based, and dynamic close quarters room combat, Castillo explained.

“The strategy and tactics learned during this training can be utilized by our security forces across multiple spectrums of warfighting especially in compressed hostile environments,” she added.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/5/ph-us-air-forces-train-in-counter-air-operations

Marcos wraps up US trip with a deeper alliance – and reassurances for China

From The Straits Times (May 6, 2023): Marcos wraps up US trip with a deeper alliance – and reassurances for China (By Nirmal Ghosh, US Bureau Chief)

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr speaking at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington on May 4. PHOTO: REUTERS

WASHINGTON – Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr wrapped up a four-day visit to Washington with a pitch for his country as an investment and economic partner of the United States across a range of fields, and a call for America to renew a preferential tariffs programme for imports from developing nations.

The President said both countries could work together on clean energy, agriculture and food security; digital infrastructure; and critical minerals needed for electric vehicle batteries.

He also laid out plans to collaborate with the US on healthcare and pharmaceuticals – including setting up a virology and vaccine institute in the Philippines.

Speaking on Thursday at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), he called for the renewal of the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP).

The GSP, created by the United Nations in 1974, waived US tariffs on nearly 5,000 products imported from about 120 countries. The Philippines was a major beneficiary, with the duty-free privileges applying to more than 3,500 exports to the US.

But the programme expired at the end of 2020, and congressional approval for its renewal has been held up by, among other issues, arguments over imposing higher labour and environmental standards on beneficiary countries.

President Marcos focused on economic issues in his speech, without once mentioning China.

But during the question-and answer-session, when asked about China, with which the Philippines has had tense stand-offs over disputed maritime territory, he emphasised the importance of keeping lines of communication open.

He said Filipino officials were working on establishing a hotline with China – an idea he had proposed to Chinese President Xi Jinping on a visit to Beijing in January.

“We certainly do not want to cause an incident by misjudgment, by mistake, that will elevate the conflict from what it is now to a higher level,” said Mr Marcos. “That is not the work of a day or a week or a month. It is something that is ongoing.”

That, in his view, “is the only way to keep the levels of confrontation, the levels of misunderstanding, to a manageable level”.

Mr Marcos met US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon on Wednesday.


Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr (left) with US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin as he arrived at the the Pentagon on May 3. PHOTO: AFP

The Pentagon subsequently released a fact sheet on Bilateral Defence Guidelines established to “modernise alliance cooperation in service of the United States and the Philippines’ shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific region”.

“The guidelines reaffirm that an armed attack in the Pacific, including anywhere in the South China Sea, on either of their public vessels, aircraft, or armed forces – which includes their coast guards – would invoke mutual defence commitments under... (the) US-Philippines Mutual Defence Treaty,” it said. The treaty dates back to 1951.

The US and the Philippines are aiming at a “unity of effort across all areas of bilateral security and defence cooperation to sustain focus on principal regional security concerns”, the fact sheet said.

MORE ON THIS TOPIC
Marcos, back in arms of US, is making his own name in foreign policy
Marcos meets Biden in sharp tilt to old ally US while still balancing ties with China

The Philippines in April announced that the US would be allowed to use four more of its military bases, bringing the total to nine. Three of the bases under the new agreement are in the northern Philippines, and one is in the south, in Palawan.

US officials have rejected suspicions that the bases could be staging grounds for offensive actions in the contingency of a war over Taiwan.

On Thursday, Mr Marcos maintained that the original idea was to enhance the bases to better deal with frequent natural disasters in the Philippines.

He also said he had assured China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang, who visited Manila in April, that the bases are not intended to be military bases to attack anyone or any country.

Asked at the dialogue at the CSIS whether the US had requested Philippine troops to join combat operations should war break out between the US and China over Taiwan, Mr Marcos said: “The short answer, is no.”

Defence cooperation, including modernising the Philippine military, has tended to overshadow Mr Marcos’ investment and trade agenda.

“With so much progress so quickly on defence cooperation, both governments entered this week worried about perceptions that the partnership was unbalanced in favour of security,” CSIS analysts wrote in a paper published on Thursday, before Mr Marcos’ speech.

“The Marcos government needs to show tangible benefits of a closer relationship with the US to the Filipino people, especially on the issues he speaks about most often, which include food and energy security, climate change and development,” they wrote.

“The Biden administration rolled out important initiatives on those fronts this week. Those will not stop the complaints... but they do offer real benefits for the Philippines and indicate the rhetoric about a comprehensive alliance is more than just talk.”

MORE ON THIS TOPIC
Why Marcos is inviting the US military back to the Philippines
Biden tells Marcos US commitment for defence of Philippines is ‘ironclad’

Broadly, Mr Marcos’ visit to the US is seen as having affirmed and deepened the alliance.

Mr Herman Kraft, convenor of the Strategic Studies Programme at the University of the Philippines, told The Straits Times that the visit was a great success.

“It reinstated the Philippines as a key ally and, perhaps more importantly, broadened the scope of the alliance beyond the usual context of defence,” he said.

Mr Kraft said that from his speech at the CSIS, it was clear Mr Marcos wanted to emphasise the non-defence aspect of his US visit.

“Aside from the evident objective of reassuring China about the nature of the visit, it also reflected the Marcos administration’s concern with economic recovery, food security, and the need to modernise the country’s infrastructure, particularly on energy.”

Asked about the future of the US-Philippines alliance on Wednesday, US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink said: “We are exceptionally confident and optimistic.”

“I think you’ll continue to see both through our leader-level engagements and our other engagements at lower levels... further development of the alliance to the benefit of our two peoples and the broader region.”

https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/marcos-wraps-up-us-trip-with-deepened-alliance-and-reassurances-for-china

Philippines warned of being dragged into Taiwan Straits situation by domineering US

 Posted to pro-China propaganda organ, the Global Times (May 6, 2023): Philippines warned of being dragged into Taiwan Straits situation by domineering US (By Liu Caiyu and Leng Shumei)



People hold placards during a protest rally against the U.S.-Philippines Balikatan joint military exercises in front of the gate of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) headquarters in Quezon City, the Philippines, April 11, 2023. More than 17,000 Philippine and U.S. troops on Tuesday kicked off the most extensive joint military activities in decades in the Philippines amid criticisms that it escalates tension in the region rather than peace and stability.(Photo: Xinhua)

The Philippines is trying to strike a balance between China and the US and ease concerns of regional countries over the US' increased military presence in the South China Sea, but given the unequal relationship between the Philippines and the US, there is a high risk that the Philippines will be able to do nothing when the US wants to break its word and drag the country into the Taiwan question, observers warned, after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos denied that US access to more military bases in the country was intended for "offensive action" against any country.

Marcos made the remarks at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington on Thursday local time, Reuters reported.

Marcos defended the move at the think-tank, saying that the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) that allows US access to bases in the Philippines was to deal with climate change. He said the US had never brought up the possibility that those bases would be used for offensive action against any country.

The Philippines has allowed US military forces access to four additional bases in the Southeast Asian nation, bringing the total number to nine, with several bases close to China's island of Taiwan. The Philippines' defense chief Carlito Galvez had called the sites "very strategic."

Marcos' clarification of the Philippines' allowing the US use of its military bases is a "disguised replacement of concept." A military base is a military base and its nature will not change no matter how hard you try to whitewash it, Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times on Friday.

A military base naturally takes "offensive action," not to mention its other important roles of detecting, listening in, and spying on other countries. Once the military bases fall into US hands, the US can effectively detect activities in the Taiwan Straits, the Nansha Islands and even Huangyan Island in an all-round way. Isn't this a threat to China's national security? Song asked.

The US has laid out in very clear terms under bilateral security guidelines with the Philippines agreed on Wednesday that it will come to its defense if its armed forces, including coast guard vessels, came under attack anywhere in the South China Sea.

In response, Mao Ning, a spokesperson of China's Foreign Ministry, said on Thursday that China firmly opposes any country's move to meddle in the South China Sea issue to harm China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

"I would like to stress that the South China Sea is a shared home for countries in the region, not a hunting ground for forces outside the region. When regional countries are committed to mutual trust, solidarity, cooperation and properly handling differences, they have in their hand the key to peace and stability in the South China Sea," Mao said.

Chen Xiangmiao, director of the world navy research center at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, deemed that Marcos is trying to express sincerity to maintain his country's relationship and cooperation with China and ease the concerns of other regional countries over the military bases.

But will the Philippines be able to stop the US when it breaks its word and uses these military bases to interfere in the Taiwan question? The answer is apparently "No", given the unequal relationship and capability between the US and the Philippines as well as the US' domineering behavior, according to Chen.

Marcos met with US President Joe Biden on Monday, making him the first Philippine leader to visit the White House in 10 years. The meeting came after the two countries' "largest ever" military drills from April 11 to 28. A "2+2" meeting of the defense and foreign ministers from the two sides was also held on April 11 amid their live-fire drills in waters in the South China Sea.

Amid the intensive interaction with the US, the Philippines also invited Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang to visit the country. During a meeting between Marcos and Qin on April 22, Marcos confirmed that the Taiwan question is China's internal affair,?and the Philippines will continue to strictly abide by the one-China policy as it has always done.

These actions indicate that the Philippines wants to seek a balance between trade cooperation with China and security support from the US, but this is only wishful thinking.

What the Philippines said and has actually done contradict each other, making the country very "split" in handling China and US-related affairs. The Philippines cannot please both sides as this harms China's interests, Chen told the Global Times.

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202305/1290194.shtml

As China frets, PH-US defense pact cemented

From the Manila Standard (May 6, 2023): As China frets, PH-US defense pact cemented (ByCharles Dantes,Vince Lopez and 2 others)

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Thursday he doesn’t feel alluded to by the latest statement of China opposing any interventions in the South China Sea after the Philippines and the United States announced new defense guidelines aimed at strengthening their alliance.


“As a Filipino and representing the Philippines, I don’t feel alluded to. How can we — how can anyone say that we are not a party to and [have no] interest in all these issues?” Marcos said in response to a question at a press conference in Washington D.C.

“I think that kind of statement was directed more towards the United States than it was [toward] the Philippines,” he added as he wrapped up his five-day official visit to the US.

The Philippines and the US have established bilateral defense guidelines to modernize the alliance “for a free and open Indo-Pacific region.”

The guidelines “reaffirmed that an armed attack in the Pacific, including anywhere in the South China Sea, on either of their aircraft or armed forces – which includes their Coast Guards – would invoke mutual defense commitments under the 1951 PH-US Mutual Defense Treaty.”

The Philippines and the US, the guidelines state, will expand cooperation on maritime security through but not limited to joint patrols.

Beijing expressed opposition to what it called meddling in the South China Sea to harm its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights.

Beijing also said the region should not be used as a “hunting ground.”

Marcos said the new United States-Philippines Bilateral Defense Guidelines, which chart their vision for alliance cooperation across all operational domains, will be responsive to the security challenges faced by both countries.

During a question-and-answer session at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, Marcos said “security and defense can no longer be isolated as one issue.”

“There are attendant and ancillary issues,” he said, citing economic issues. “We must be looking to adjust our relationship as we all are trying to adjust and to transform our economies.”

In a meeting at Pentagon on Wednesday, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to bolstering the Philippines’ defense capabilities as the allies develop a Security Sector Assistance Roadmap to guide shared defense modernization investments over the next five to 10 years.

The new bilateral defense guidelines aim to direct a “whole-of-government coordination” as well as promote better coordination and bilateral planning to ensure the territorial integrity and security of both parties.

The guidelines would also institutionalize better interoperability and develop inter-agency capabilities of Philippine and American security establishments.

The President also stressed the need to focus on the new economy emerging from the post-pandemic world.

Asked about his takeaway from his meetings with US officials and lawmakers regarding international security, Mr. Marcos raised the need to protect the sovereignty of each nation in the face of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

“I think we are in full agreement that we must continue to protect the sovereignty, not just sovereign rights, but the sovereignty of each nation, no matter where they are, and that the situation in Ukraine cannot continue and it is something that is really anachronistic in the modern world,” he said.

The President said the Philippines had been straightforward in supporting the resolutions passed by the United Nations in the war in Ukraine.

“We respect the sovereignty and territoriality of every single nation in the world. And that applies most certainly because they are in this incredibly critical situation where an outright war is going on,” he said.

Mr. Marcos said nations should exert all possible efforts to bring peace to Ukraine.

Shortly after the bilateral meeting between Mr. Marcos and US President Joseph Biden, the Department of National Defense announced the finalization of the Philippines-United States Bilateral Defense Guidelines.

“With both countries’ commitment to ensuring the Mutual Defense Treaty’s continued relevance to addressing contemporary and emerging security challenges, the Philippines and the United States established the Bilateral Defense Guidelines, which support a mutual understanding of roles, missions, and capabilities within the framework of the alliance,” DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said in a statement Friday.

He added that its finalization is in line with the announcement of President Marcos to strengthen and redefine Philippines-United States relations and the roles of the two countries in the Asia-Pacific and Indo-Pacific regions.

The Bilateral Defense Guidelines intend to institutionalize key bilateral priorities, mechanisms, and processes to deepen alliance cooperation and interoperability across land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace.

It also recalls alliance foundations to include the reaffirmation of both countries’ commitment to the MDT and the conclusion of defense agreements and mechanisms that demonstrate the adaptability and evolution of the alliance in responding to both conventional and non-conventional challenges through the years.

Based on the guidelines, the two defense establishments aim to strengthen the defense partnership through enhancing alliance coordination and bilateral planning; expanding information-sharing; modernizing defense capabilities; deepening interoperability and people-to-people ties, combating transnational and non-conventional threats, and contributing to global and regional peace and stability.

“The release of the Bilateral Defense Guidelines marks an important milestone in the longstanding partnership between the Philippines and the United States. It serves as a testament to the strong and enduring partnership between the Philippines and the United States and reflects the shared commitment of both countries to uphold peace, stability, and the rule of law in the region,” the statement said.

China opposed the new defense guidelines, saying countries surrounding the contested waterway have maintained peace and stability in the region.

Mao Ning, the spokesperson of China’s Foreign Ministry, said Beijing “firmly opposes any country’s move to meddle in the South China Sea issue to harm China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests by citing the guidelines.”

The Chinese official assailed the need for such since the situation in the contested waterway has been characterized by overall stability “with the concerted efforts of regional countries.”

China’s statement comes amid its own acts of aggression in the South China Sea, including conducting dangerous maneuvers against foreign vessels’ crew as well as fishermen, an incursion into others’ exclusive economic zone, and driving away fishermen from their local fishing grounds.

“I would like to stress that the South China Sea is the shared home for countries in the region, not a hunting ground for forces outside the region,” Mao said in her regular press briefing on Thursday night.

“When regional countries are committed to mutual trust, solidarity, cooperation and properly handling differences, they have in their hand the key to peace and stability in the South China Sea,” she said.

Former Department of Foreign Affairs secretary and current Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom Teddy Boy Locsin defended the new defense guidelines between Manila and Washington.

Locsin posted on his Twitter account that the US “is not moving to meddle in the South China Sea Arbitral Award issue.”

“But it must meddle if there is an attack on the public vessels of the only US military treaty ally in the world: the Philippines,” he said.

Locsin said protecting the Philippines is “the iron obligation of the US” under the Mutual Defense Treaty. The Philippines also has the same obligation as the US, he added. “It is a mutual defense treaty. Neither side gets a free ride.”

Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte, meanwhile, said he hoped that joint maritime patrols in the West Philippine Sea would be undertaken not only with the United States but also with other allies such as Japan and Australia.

“With Beijing ignoring time and again the hundreds of diplomatic protests that have been filed by Manila over the nonstop intrusions of Chinese vessels into the WPS, I believe the best approach we can take at this point to put an end to such bullying tactics is for us to double down on plans for joint patrols in the disputed waterway with the US and other allies like Japan and Australia that seem open to such a border security arrangement,” Villafuerte said.

More than 200 diplomatic protests have reportedly been lodged by Manila against Beijing in recent years.

“That the incessant harassment of Philippine vessels in our very own territory has been increasing despite the series of official engagements between Beijing and Manila, ostensibly in pursuit of a peaceful resolution to this territorial dispute only illustrates that the Philippine government’s filing of diplomatic protests over and over against such Chinese bullying is a futile approach,” he said.

“China has repeatedly made a mockery of its diplomatic talks and avowed commitments with the Philippines on pursuing a peaceful settlement of the conflict, as such formal engagements this year have only become a prelude to more, instead of less, Chinese intrusions into our territorial waters and EEZ,” Villafuerte said.

“The asymmetry between Beijing’s rhetoric and action on this thorny territorial issue is as clear as day,” he said, pointing out that the trio of Manila-Beijing diplomatic engagements this year had been followed by even more intense bullying tactics by China in the WPS.

On Thursday, Israel expressed interest in taking a “major” part in the Horizon 3 of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ modernization program.

During the Horizons 1 and 2 of the program, Israel successfully delivered artillery, howitzers, and armored personnel and mortar carriers to the Philippines.

“Israeli companies are interested to continue what’s started in the last few years where Israel has become, I think an important and reliable supplier of quality and reliable equipment,” Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss said during the 75th Israel Independence Day reception Thursday night.

“We’re looking into the future of the Horizon 3 modernization program. And obviously, we do hope that Israel will also take a major part in the Horizon,” he added.

Fluss said the two more Israeli Shaldag Mark 5 ships — fast attack interdiction craft-missile (FAIC-Ms) in the Philippine Navy (PN) — would be formally turned over soon as part of the nine vessels that the country contracted from the Israel Shipyards Ltd.

These FAIC-Ms, which will form part of the Navy’s Acero-class patrol gunboats, are among the 2019 projects approved by former President Rodrigo Duterte under the Horizon 2 list of the modernization program.

https://manilastandard.net/news/314328155/as-china-frets-ph-us-defense-pact-cemented.html

At Washington forum, Marcos stresses 'friend to all, enemy to none' policy

Posted to the Philippine Star (May 5, 2023): At Washington forum, Marcos stresses 'friend to all, enemy to none' policy



President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. meets with the Filipino community in Washington D.C. after his bilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden on May 1, 2023 (US Time).
STAR / KJ Rosales


MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will try to maintain good relations with China while reaffirming ties with the US, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said Friday in Washington.

Speaking at a forum organized by think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies, Marcos said that the Philippines will balance relations with the two giant economies, adding "disengagement is not really an option."

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He said: "In my first State of the Nation Address, I said the Philippines' foreign policy will keep the Philippines a friend to all and enemy to none. Our foreign policy is almost simplistic when I described it because our foreign policy is based on the pursuit of peace, our foreign policy is based on the promotion of our national interest."

Marcos said that moves towards defending the Philippines' territorial integrity and sovereignty are part of promoting that national interest.

The Philippines has been repairing ties with the US after the six years of the Duterte administration that saw then President Rodrigo Duterte at times hostile to the US and to the West. Duterte had even proposed an alliance among the Philippines, China and Russia.

Marcos has given US troops access to more Philippine military facilities under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement and has hosted the biggest Balikatan exercises yet. The Philippines and US have also revived the Cope Thunder air combat exercises that used to be held annually during the Cold War.

Marcos also received Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang in MalacaƱang last month.

"It’s very, very useful and very, very productive that Minister Qin came here and that we were able to talk things a little bit through, make plans for the future, continue to work on growing the relationship between the Philippines and China, not only in the economic field but in the cultural and educational and other exchanges," Marcos said of the visit.

READ: Philippines, China to open more lines of communication

Open communications

Asked how he would maintain stable relations with China while insisting on Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea, Marcos responded: "In the same way that we maintain our relationship with the US. We constantly consult with our allies and our partners. We constantly keep our lines of communications open."

The Philippines and China have agreed in principle to put up a direct line to better manage tension in the South China Sea, part of which is the West Philippine Sea.

"And in that way, no matter if I cannot speak, for example, to President Xi himself, I have someone that I can pick up the phone and call who I know and I have confidence in making my message arrive to the president," he said.

"And this works of course, both ways. That is, if the president of the People's Republic would like a message to arrive to me, then we have a system in place to achieve that."

Both sides are still working on putting the hotline in place.

Tension over the West Philippine Sea was high in April after the Philippine Coast Guard reported incidents with Chinese ships.

China called the incident "a premeditated and provocative action for the Philippine vessel...to deliberately find fault and take the opportunity to hype up the incident."

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/05/05/2264041/washington-forum-marcos-stresses-friend-all-enemy-none-policy

Power in partnership: The strategic significance of the US-Philippines alliance

Posted to the Philippine Star (May 6, 22023): Power in partnership: The strategic significance of the US-Philippines alliance (By Jikko Alfonso Puzon)



Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and US President Joe Biden walk up the West Wing colonnade on their way to the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, on May 1, 2023.
AFP/Carolyn Kaster/Pool


Following the successful conclusion of this year's Balikatan exercise and the announcement of four new sites under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), the Philippines has taken another strategic step to redefine its longstanding alliance with the United States.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recently arrived in Washington, D.C., for a five-day official visit to discuss ways to reinforce and modernize the enduring partnership between the two countries. His visit to the White House, considered the first for a Filipino leader in more than ten years, marks a clear departure from the foreign policy pursued by the previous administration.

In his bilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden, President Marcos Jr. said that it is only “natural” for the Philippines to forge closer ties with the United States considering that it is the country's sole treaty ally in the region. Recognizing the strategic significance of the alliance in maintaining peace and stability, President Biden reaffirmed the “ironclad” commitment of the United States to protect the Philippines in the event of an armed attack on its armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft, including those stationed in the South China Sea. He also mentioned his plans to continue supporting the modernization goals of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Last year, the United States announced its plan to provide $100 million in military assistance to the AFP in an effort to boost the country’s defense capabilities. During the recent 2+2 ministerial dialogue between Manila and Washington, it also earmarked an additional $18 million on top of the initial $82 million to support the development and operationalization of EDCA sites.

As tensions in the region continue to rise, the Philippine government has forged closer ties with the United States and other strategic partners to build deterrence and strengthen the country’s capacity to address potential conflicts, particularly in the maritime domain.

In a joint statement, President Marcos Jr. and President Biden reaffirmed their commitment to freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea. They have also stressed the crucial need to respect the sovereign rights of states within their exclusive economic zones (EEZ) in accordance with international law.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) recently confirmed reports of a near-collision around the Ayungin Shoal after a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel kept a close distance from one of its patrol vessels, BRP Malapascua. In the same vicinity, the PCG also reported that a CCG vessel persistently monitored and trailed BRP Malabrigo at a close distance of 700 yards.

Despite the fact that the Philippine government has repeatedly maintained that the Ayungin Shoal is within the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), China claims that the PCG vessels intruded on its territory without permission and that the CCG was simply taking precautionary measures to avoid conflict.

Although President Marcos Jr. said that China has agreed to discuss recurring issues in the West Philippine Sea, it has continued to harass Philippine vessels and disrupt the livelihood of Filipino fishermen, forcing the Philippine government to strategize and seek ways to effectively manage its aggressive behavior in the region.

As part of these efforts, the Philippines and the United States recently issued new Bilateral Defense Guidelines, which serve as a framework for strengthening defense cooperation and increasing interoperability between the two countries across multiple domains such as land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace. The new guidelines also aim to identify priority areas of defense cooperation and foster a common understanding of the roles and missions of both countries. It also outlines initiatives to enhance bilateral planning and information-sharing between the Philippines and the United States.

In his meeting with President Marcos Jr., US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III discussed his plans to help accelerate the defense modernization efforts of the Philippines as well as concrete steps to expand operational cooperation in the maritime domain.

Echoing the statement of President Biden, he also reiterated the commitment of the United States to defend the country under the MDT. Secretary Austin visited the Philippines last February and met with President Marcos Jr. together with top defense and foreign affairs officials from Washington.

The US-Philippines alliance is expected to remain a key strategic partnership for both countries in the coming years. However, it will most likely face ongoing political challenges and must adapt to evolving security and economic developments in the region. In a recent forum organized by the Stratbase ADR Institute, this was highlighted by Professor Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit.

He argued that maintaining a rules-based order in the region requires fostering close cooperation with like-minded partners such as the United States, Japan, and Australia. General Emmanuel Bautista, former Chief of Staff of the AFP, and Mr. Brett Blackshaw, current political counsellor of the US Embassy in the Philippines, both emphasized the strategic importance of the US-Philippines alliance in upholding and defending the country's sovereign rights, particularly in the West Philippine Sea.

By deepening and diversifying the country’s alliance and strategic partnerships, the Philippines under the leadership of President Marcos Jr. can strategically navigate the increasing complex region and eventually contribute to the shared vision of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.

[Jikko Alfonso Puzon is a research manager at think tank Stratbase ADR Institute.]

https://www.philstar.com/news-commentary/2023/05/06/2264233/power-partnership-strategic-significance-us-philippines-alliance

USARPAC’s first MDTF Advances Interoperability through a Combined US – Philippines Information and Effects Fusion Cell

Posted to the US Army Website (May 5, 2023): USARPAC’s first MDTF Advances Interoperability through a Combined US – Philippines Information and Effects Fusion Cell (By 1st Lt. Madeline Suba) 

FORT MAGSAYSAY, Philippines – The U.S. and Philippine forces implemented a groundbreaking information-sharing center during Balikatan 2023 – the largest-ever iteration of their annual keystone exercise. U.S. Army Pacific’s First Multi-Domain Task Force (1MDTF) established the Combined Information and Effects Fusion Cell (CIEFC) at Camp Aquino, Philippines, connecting the 3rd Marine Division with the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) to promote maritime domain awareness and synchronize bilateral military operations.

The CIEFC provides a venue to integrate U.S. joint service members from the Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps alongside their counterparts in the Armed Forces of the Philippines Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. During a recent visit to Camp Aquino, General Charles Flynn, the U.S. Army Pacific Commander, noted that the CIEFC is “the foremost joint and combined headquarters participating in this year’s Balikatan.”

These advances in shared awareness are taking place as the U.S. and the Philippines expand their existing partnership. For example, at the U.S.- Philippines two+two Ministerial Dialogue on April 11th, U.S. and Philippine Secretaries of State and Defense articulated a mutual intent to cultivate interoperability across conventional and unconventional military domains. The CIEFC aims to advance these strategic goals of information-sharing and technological cooperation at the operational level.

Both nations' military leaders highlighted the CIEFC’s potential to expand maritime domain awareness and enable military action.

“The bilateral integration within the CIEFC is the kind of activity I expect NOLCOM to achieve with the help of the U.S.,” said Lt. Gen. Fernyl Buca, NOLCOM Commander.

“This is how we transition to a joint exercise model,” said Maj. Gen. Jay Bargeron, 3rd Marine Division Commander, during his visit to the CIEFC. “This is what we must do going forward to conduct meaningful joint and combined operations.”

Doing so requires investments in human, technical, and procedural interoperability.

In preparation for Balikatan, the CIEFC brought together experts from both countries to establish human interoperability by identifying shared objectives. Mutual commitment to the defense of Northern Luzon drives the campaign to fuse bilateral information and military action.

Persisting policy and classification requirements impede technical interoperability and information-sharing between U.S. and Philippine forces. A shared classified network is necessary for bilateral situational awareness in and around the Philippines.

In the face of policy barriers, NOLCOM and U.S. Forces are seizing opportunities to share information at the unclassified level. For example, the first Multi-Domain Task Force built a U.S.-Filipino network to support a sharing environment that fuses unclassified data streams with commercial tools. This creates a common picture that allows U.S. and Philippine joint task force commanders to drive rapid military action.

With shared objectives and shareable data, Filipino and U.S. representatives in the CIEFC are also building procedural interoperability by codifying joint and combined standard operating procedures. These procedures will allow both countries to integrate shared information more efficiently.

The CIEFC’s potential became evident within five days of initial operations when bilateral intelligence analysts demonstrated their ability to track foreign military vessels using only unclassified data – a task typically only conducted with classified data. U.S. and Filipino analysts identified anomalies in vessel traffic using open-source maritime tracking tools. They assessed that these irregular patterns indicate the presence of foreign military vessels using techniques to hide their presence from commercial tracking systems. Unclassified, open-source intelligence products later confirmed these assessments, validating the CIEFC’s ability to expand shared maritime domain awareness at the unclassified level. In the future, intelligence like this will enable the CIEFC to generate timely, combined military responses.

Codifying these processes and shared procedures sets conditions for enduring multi-domain awareness long after Balikatan 2023 concludes.

The Joint Statement from the U.S.-Philippines two+two Ministerial Dialogue emphasized that both nations are committed to “Bilateral planning and interoperability to ensure readiness to respond to a range of crises and scenarios.” With an “always-on” network providing constant global connectivity, the CIEFC is a conduit for this increased level of resilient interoperability in the Pacific.

https://www.army.mil/article/266435/usarpacs_first_mdtf_advances_interoperability_through_a_combined_us_philippines_information_and_effects_fusion_cell