CPP: Balikatan reinforces Philippine dependence on US amid China aggression

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) slammed the opening of the Balikatan military exercises, arguing that it reinforces the Philippine military's dependence on the United States amid China's incursions in the West Philippine Sea.

"Amid increasing Chinese aggression in the Philippine seas, the Balikatan exercise fosters the false notion that the US military is the only option for the Philippines to stand up to China," CPP Information Officer Marco Valbuena said in a press statement.

"In fact, because of its long standing reliance on the US military, the AFP remains incapable of defending the country independently."

The Philippines earlier summoned the Chinese Ambassador over the presence of Chinese boats at the Julian Felipe Reef.

The Chinese vessels staying at the Julian Felipe Reef decreased from more than 200 to only nine, according to Foreign Affairs Department.

Meanwhile, Department of National Defense spokesperson Aresnio Andolong said the Philippines would keep its options open over managing the West Philippine Sea situation "including leveraging our partnerships with other nations such as the United States."

The US State Department, for its part, made it clear that an armed attack against the Philippines' armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the Pacific, including in the South China Sea "would trigger US obligations under the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty."

Meanwhile, the CPP also criticized the Duterte government for failing to create a comprehensive plan in asserting the country's sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea.

"This reliance is made worse by the Duterte government's failure to come up with a more robust and comprehensive plan of resisting China's aggression," Valbuena said.

Also, the CPP claimed that the annual Balikatan exercises reinforced US operational control over Philippine military forces.

The CPP also said the annual exercise between the two nations "trains the Philippine military to provide support services to the US military in its overseas operations especially in this part of the globe."

The Balikatan exercise will also be used to influence the Armed Forces of the Philippines to prioritize anti-insurgency operations.

The Philippine military opened its joint exercises with the US on Monday.  This year's Balikatan includes a bilateral staff exercise, close air support training, subject matter exchanges, maritime security training, and humanitarian and civic assistance activities.

While AFP chief General Cirilito Sobejana said that the exercise fostered a stronger and more robust military relationship and interoperability between the Philippine and US militaries, US Balikatan exercise director Colonel Aaron Brunk added that by training together, the two militaries built upon each other and strengthen each other.

The Balikatan exercise was suspended last year to allow the country to prioritize its efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic. — DVM, GMA News