Imagine Being Ray Powell (CIA), Terrified of Peace, Diplomacy, and a Filipina +

Oh, look — Ray Powel, again, the CIA operative messing around the SCS dispute???

Apparently, I’m living rent-free in the head of a retired U.S. Air Force colonel turned “maritime gray-zone investigator” who thinks the Philippines, China, ASEAN, and the entire South China Sea revolve around his newly invented fantasy threat matrix. Let me make this absolutely clear:

Ray Powell mentioning me — twice now — is A BADGE OF HONOR!! Because if a CIA-adjacent operative (yes, Ray, we all know how “Air Force Attachés” function abroad), working hand-in-hand with Washington’s geopolitical machinery, has me on his radar, it only means one thing:

I’m saying something true enough, loud enough, and inconvenient enough to rattle him.

Imagine Being Ray Powell (CIA), Terrified of Peace, Diplomacy, and a Filipina

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Germany, Philippines agree to broaden defence cooperation deal + Vietnam Sends Coast Guard Ship To Philippines For Joint Training

Source

Pistorius is the first German defence minister to visit the Philippines and hopes to finalise the agreement as early as October

Germany, Philippines agree to broaden defence cooperation deal

Related:

Vietnam Sends Coast Guard Ship To Philippines For Joint Training

Philippine and Japan navies held their first bilateral drills in the contested waters, the Southeast Asian nation’s military said in a statement Friday.

YouTube: NATO’s NEW VICTIM: Missiles Deployed, $500M Aid, New US Proxy & Military Buildup|Dr. A.Malingdog-Uy

US Missile Deployment And $500M Military Aid To PH: Defensive Or Offensive Posturing?

US Missile Deployment And $500M Military Aid To PH: Defensive Or Offensive Posturing?

Full video

LAST July 30, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III dropped by Manila for the Philippines-US 2+2 ministerial dialogue, the fourth such talks since it began in 2012. This is unprecedented because it’s the first time that talks have been held in Manila. Indeed, the PH-US 2+2 dialogue has set the stage for continued and expanded military cooperation, reflecting a strengthened military and defense alliance between the two sides. Before visiting Manila, the two US officials also held talks in Tokyo with their counterpart top Japanese defense and diplomatic officials on July 28 to bolster military and defense cooperation.

US Missile Deployment And $500M Military Aid To PH: Defensive Or Offensive Posturing?

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US missile system may stay in PH after military drill – Army

THE Philippine Army yesterday said a medium-range missile system [Typhon] of United States military may remain in the country beyond September this year, depending on the training needs of Filipino troops.

China-Philippines ties may improve, as long as US stops interfering

Why Are There Fears of War in the South China Sea?

NO to US-BBM War, NO to EDCA Bases! Blinken-Austin Get Out, Stay Out!

The Philippines and China have just restored peace and stability in the areas of the South China Sea contested by the two countries in a July 21, 2024 “de-escalation” deal that aimed at “easing tensions.”

NO to US-BBM War, NO to EDCA Bases!
Blinken-Austin Get Out, Stay Out!

Related:

NO to US-BBM War, NO to EDCA Bases! – Cebu

NO to US-BBM War, NO to EDCA Bases! Blinken-Austin Get Out, Stay Out! Forum Statement

Washington’s Use and Abuse of the Philippines Takes Next Step

Is the Philippines becoming a US ‘proxy’ against Beijing in the South China Sea?

Is the Philippines becoming a US ‘proxy’ against Beijing in the South China Sea?

‘The ants that get trampled on’

Not everyone agrees with drawing closer to the US, however, and they warn about the Philippines turning into a “proxy” for American interests. The president’s own sister Imee, a senator, told ANC Digital earlier this month that “China will always be our neighbour, we have no fight with them, let’s not get dragged into a fight that’s not our own.”

Anna Rosario Malindog-Uy, director of the pro-China Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute, wrote in the Manila Times on February 10 that “agreements such as the EDCA, the VFA and the Mutual Defence Treaty have not only cemented the US military presence and influence in the Philippines but also, most importantly, exemplified the Philippines’ dependence on the US in the military and defence sector.”

Teresita Ang See, former president of the Philippine Association for Chinese Studies and currently part of its advisory council, told This Week in Asia: “Filipinos in general condemn China’s action. But many also understand that China’s assertiveness is in response to US, Japanese and Australian provocations and increasing military presence in the Philippines.”

She warned that “we are fighting a proxy war between the US and China and in the end we will be the ants that get trampled upon”.

H/T: Johnsonwkchoi

Related:

Responding to the Catholic Bishops

Philippines counts the cost of tough South China Sea stance against Beijing

With duplicity, the Philippines hot-headedly positions itself as the US’ cannon fodder + More

What does the Philippines want – a stable and conducive environment for its peaceful development, or to be trapped in the unpredictable game of geopolitics? Recently, the country’s actions and words have been filled with duplicity and complexity, but the trend is discernible – the Philippines is hot-headedly positioning itself as a vanguard, bridgehead, and even cannon fodder for the US.

With duplicity, the Philippines hot-headedly positions itself as the US’ cannon fodder

Related:

8th PH-CN BCM in the South China Sea: A Step Forward, But What Lies Ahead

Philippines to develop islands in South China Sea + More

Tonto Strikes Again: Preempts Task Force, DFA + and an update (Philippines)

Tonto Strikes Again: Preempts Task Force, DFA + and an update (Philippines)

First of Three Parts: Sabotaging Diplomacy at the South China Seas

Four days after the country has barely started recovering from the trauma President Marcos dealt on Philippine-China relations after he made a faux pas recognizing the newly-elected president of Taiwan and infuriating China, Philippine Coast Guard Jay Tarriela again preempted the National Task Force and the Department of Foreign Affairs dishing out fake news to the national media.

Tonto Strikes Again: Preempts Task Force, DFA

I’ve updated my ‘Philippines Game Changer’ document, with a couple of links, regarding the South China Sea and ‘Freedom of Navigation’. I’ve also created a page for all of my working papers, to which I’ll upload future updates. If anyone has any feedback, I’d appreciate it. I can be reached through my contact page, or email at mscat71@dontsp.am, if comments are closed.

Related:

US policies pushing China, Philippines to brink of conflict

There’s an information war going on in the South China Sea (using embedded journalists, civil society activists, and various US think tanks). The Philippines plans on building a military base, on the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, to replace the BRP Sierra Madre (which is about to break apart). Marcos is also re-starting oil exploration, in the Reed Bank which is part of the disputed territory.

Philippines to develop islands in South China Sea + More

YouTube Playlist: InfoOp – SCS