Philippine politicians worry about ‘warmonger’ Trump’s aggressive foreign policy
A prominent leftist party in the Philippines has renewed calls for the removal of US troops, citing concerns over US president-elect Donald Trump’s aggressive foreign policy. They warn that his recent threats against other nations highlight the dangers of a larger American military presence in the Southeast Asian country.
Despite these appeals, observers believe they are unlikely to gain traction due to strong political and public support for closer ties between Manila and Washington, particularly in countering China's maritime aggression. The Bayan Muna Party, which has consistently criticized Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, raised alarms after Trump claimed the right to take over Greenland and the Panama Canal, suggesting military force could be used to achieve these goals.
Bayan Muna stated that Trump's rise is a reminder of the grave dangers posed by an expanded US military presence in the Philippines, which could be used as a staging ground for asserting control over the Pacific and the South China Sea as part of a containment policy against China. Under the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), Marcos Jnr has expanded US military access to nine locations in 2023, including bases near the South China Sea and Taiwan, building on the Visiting Forces Agreement from 1999.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
A prominent leftist party in the Philippines has renewed calls for the removal of US troops, citing concerns over US president-elect Donald Trump’s aggressive foreign policy. They warn that his recent threats against other nations highlight the dangers of a larger American military presence in the Southeast Asian country.
Despite these appeals, observers believe they are unlikely to gain traction due to strong political and public support for closer ties between Manila and Washington, particularly in countering China's maritime aggression. The Bayan Muna Party, which has consistently criticized Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, raised alarms after Trump claimed the right to take over Greenland and the Panama Canal, suggesting military force could be used to achieve these goals.
Bayan Muna stated that Trump's rise is a reminder of the grave dangers posed by an expanded US military presence in the Philippines, which could be used as a staging ground for asserting control over the Pacific and the South China Sea as part of a containment policy against China. Under the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), Marcos Jnr has expanded US military access to nine locations in 2023, including bases near the South China Sea and Taiwan, building on the Visiting Forces Agreement from 1999.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
