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

Report to Congress on China-Philippines Tensions in the South China Sea

The following is the Jan. 23, 2024, Congressional Research Service In Focus report, China-Philippines Tensions in the South China Sea.

Report to Congress on China-Philippines Tensions in the South China Sea

I’ll be updating this, soon: Philippines Game Changer – Project Myoushu – South China Sea Analysis. You can find it, here, as well. I just hope that they don’t end up stationing any US troops at the BRP Sierra Madre (see videos, below)!

Related:

Read More »

Vietnamese Poachers using Cyanide and Dynamite Fishing in the Philippines’ EEZ

rhk111’s Channel

Vietnamese Poachers using Cyanide and Dynamite Fishing in the Philippines’ EEZ

The Groups said that Vietnamese Poachers are conducting Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Philippines. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) are reportedly in the Area but are not going after the Vietnamese Poachers. 

These Poachers are also reportedly using Cyanide and Dynamite when fishing that is causing irreparable Damage to the Environment and adversely affect the catch of Philippine Fisherfolk.   

For me the biggest Question to ask here is why are the Philippine Press, Government Agencies and Lawmakers constantly complaining about China doing this or doing that within our EEZ, but when it is Vietnamese Poachers doing the same or even worse they are so quiet about it? 

Bongbong is just a puppet of the US.

Compared to this:

PH condemns China’s latest harassment of Filipino fishers

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

Philippines to develop islands in South China Sea + More

MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines will develop islands in the South China Sea that it considers part of its territory to make them more habitable for troops, Manila’s military chief Romeo Brawner told reporters on Monday.

Philippines to develop islands in South China Sea – military chief

Related:

Philippines continues S.China Sea provocations

South China Sea: Philippines defence minister calls out China official for ‘gutter-level talk’, to ramp up military ties

The US-backed NED candidate Willy Lie from the NED-backed party won

YouTube Playlist: InfoOp – SCS

Work in progress: Philippines Game Changer Analysis (PDF)

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.

Beijing has ‘a lot of legal weapons’ to challenge Manila’s claims in South China Sea, international law expert says

Beijing still has plenty of countermeasures it could use against Manila if tensions between the two countries continue to escalate in the South China Sea, according to a seasoned legal expert who specialises in the region.

Beijing has ‘a lot of legal weapons’ to challenge Manila’s claims in South China Sea, international law expert says

PH-US drills off Mindoro ‘shadowed,’ shortened

ANC 24/7 (where I got the clip) lied and said that the PLA didn’t respond, at all! As for the South China Sea Arbitration, see this video.

PH-US drills off Mindoro ‘shadowed,’ shortened

Del Pilar’s sister ship, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16), sailed from Subic port the same day. On Tuesday, however, the US side asked for a 24-hour delay due to “operational requirements.”

What is your intention, over?” “Philippine warship 15, this is Chinese Navy warship 570 conducting lawful activities in our territorial seas, over,” came the reply.

One more time, from the Philippine ship: “Chinese warship 570, you are within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. Your actions will affect Philippine-Chinese relations and will be reported to concerned authorities, over.”

On Wednesday, US Navy destroyer USS Sterett (DDG- 104), one of the escort ships of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), was the only American ship to arrive for the exercises.

Canceled, shortened

Two other US warships and the USS Carl Vinson were expected to join but did not show up due to “operational necessity.”

“Unfortunately, they did not give specifics (why the other activities were canceled). They just said that ‘due to some operational necessity,’ they have to reallocate some of their forces to other tasks,” Carlos said in an interview on board the Del Pilar.

Related:

PLA conducts naval, air patrols in South China Sea amid US-Philippine provocations

In the name of resupply, the Philippines has repeatedly sent vessels carrying illegal building materials in attempts to reinforce a warship that has been illegally grounded on Ren’ai Reef since 1999 to permanently occupy the Chinese reef.

Those attempts were blocked by China Coast Guard vessels with legitimate and professional restriction measures.