Filipinos stage anti-US rally, urge US troops withdrawal

People in the Philippines have staged a protest rally against the US government in the capital Manila, calling on Washington to withdraw troops from the Southeast Asian country.

On Saturday, the protesters held banners and placards reading anti-US slogans such as "No to US intervention” and “Yes to sovereignty."

The demonstrators also chanted slogans against the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement signed by the US and the Philippines in 2014.

The deal allows US forces, ships, and aircraft to use certain military camps in the Philippines. The protesters said the accord is detrimental to the sovereignty of their country.

The rally was held on the 4th of July, Philippine Republic Day, also known as Filipino-American Friendship Day. The United States officially recognized the independence of Philippine, a former US territory, on July 4, 1946.

The protesters, however, expressed that the relationship between the two countries is far from being amicable.

“There is nothing really friendly about the relationship between the US governments and the Philippines because the US continues to exploit and oppress the Filipino people through its various economic impositions," protest leader Eleanor De Guzman said.

In 1992, the US terminated its permanent military presence in the Philippines, but the two sides hold annual war games to this day.

The US military began the biggest joint exercises with the Philippines in 15 years on April 20 this year. The 10-day annual drills -- dubbed Balikatan or Shoulder to Shoulder -- involved over 6,600 American forces, 5,000 Philippine personnel along with 61 Australian troops, according to Philippine military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Marlowe Patria.

This year’s drill was twice the size of that of the last year’s, signifying the US military’s will to promote its strategy for a stronger US presence in the region.

The exercise came as tensions between China and the Philippines were on the rise over maritime and territorial disputes in recent months. The two countries have competing claims over a number of islands and shoals in the South China Sea.

Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the whole of the South China Sea, which is also claimed in part by the Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Taiwan. The waters are believed to sit atop vast reserves of minerals, oil, and gas.

Political observers believe America’s efforts to increase its presence in the region are aimed at containing China.

Beijing has frequently warned Washington to be cautious in its words and actions with regard to territorial disputes involving China and its neighbors.

MSM/NT/AS

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