The Task Force Philippines formed by the imperialist US must be strongly denounced and opposed as it will be used for further military intervention in the country. With the establishment of Task Force Philippines, the US increasingly places under its control the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other security forces of the neocolonial state to serve US geopolitical interests in Asia.

Task Force Philippines is a new US military unit based in the Philippines, aimed at directing the AFP’s “external defense” operations from the South China Sea to the Luzon Strait against alleged “coercive and aggressive” actions by China in the region.

The declared objective to “enhance cooperation between the US and the Philippines” is utterly absurd, especially since the AFP chief himself admitted he knows no details about this planned task force by the US. The only thing he knows is that it is based on the concept and operations of the Task Force Ayungin established by the US last year.

This earlier task force was formed in 2024 and created by US military officials. It planned the “resupply” operations for the AFP ship BRP Sierra Madre, which is stranded at Ayungin Shoal. The US provided military equipment and the necessary resources, as well as aerial and satellite surveillance support. In simple terms, the AFP’s “resupply missions” are maritime operations directly commanded and controlled by the US.

The formation of Task Force Philippines is the latest ploy of the imperialist US and is a clear indication of higher levels of intervention in the country. It serves the framework of the US Indo-Pacific Strategy aimed at surrounding its imperialist rival, China, and preventing its growing military and economic power.

For many years now, the US has been exploiting and exacerbating the maritime dispute between the Philippines and China, in order to justify the use of the Mutual Defense Treaty and other unequal military agreements to strengthen its military presence in the Philippines. It has established at least nine US military bases recognized under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

There are more unacknowledged bases and facilities of the US across the country, including an AFP facility on Mavulis Island in Batanes for US use. The US military is also present in facilities in Ilocos Norte, Aurora, Quezon, Mindoro, Panay, and various parts of Palawan. These facilities are staffed by American officials and soldiers or are equipped with weapons like the Typhon missile system and other powerful weapons. The US also plans to establish ammunition, drone, and other weapon manufacturing sites in the country. Additionally, there are plans for the US to set up a refueling depot in the vast waters of Davao Gulf.

The US also maintains the permanent presence of its US warships, including massive aircraft carriers carrying thousands of American soldiers, in the waters surrounding the Philippines. They freely navigate and dock in any part of the country. They are used in successive military exercises in the Philippines, all building on the scenario of a potential war with China.

Marcos is a subservient lapdog to his imperialist master, the US. He has become even increasingly submissive due to his desperation to gain US support, especially in light of the brewing political crisis caused by the revelation of massive corruption cases and ongoing widespread protests against his regime.

In a recent ASEAN meeting, Marcos served as a mouthpiece for the US agenda and promoted what he referred to as “enhanced defense cooperation” among Southeast Asian countries against the “threat and aggression” of China. Marcos was rebuffed, receiving no support for his proposal.

Following US orders, Marcos has consecutively entered into “visiting forces” agreements with Japan and Canada, both of which are countries allied with the US. This aims to allow these countries to utilize the maritime and land territories of the Philippines for US-affiliated military operations. Now, Marcos boasts of plans to purchase one-month’s worth of military equipment to enable the AFP to defend the country against a supposed aggressor for one month, before seeking assistance.

Aligned with Marcos’- agenda, various pro-US parties, organizations, institutions, and media segments are acting to support the increasing military presence of the US in the Philippines, under the guise of defending the “West Philippine Sea.” These are funded by US imperialism through institutions like the National Endowment for Democracy and flow into groups like “INCITEgov.” In 2023, the US government also allocated $1.6 billion for a 5-year program for “anti-China propaganda.”

They are fueling Sinophobia or hatred towards everything related to China. Like Marcos, they portray a threat of “invasion” and “aggression” from China while remaining silent about how the Philippines continues to be a neocolony of US imperialism. They claim that anyone opposing US military intervention in the Philippines is “pro-China.”

The Dutertes are now pretending to be anti-US to overshadow the corruption issues involving their family. This is a hollow act. While in power, Rodrigo Duterte did nothing to close EDCA sites or to completely reject the VFA and military agreements with the US. He freed the American soldier who killed Jennifer Laude. The Dutertes are now silent on the US plan to establish a refueling depot in Davao Gulf.

In light of the increasingly aggressive push from the US to provoke war and drag the Philippines into conflict against China, there is an urgent need for the people to unite and prevent this from happening.

The call to dismantle all US military bases, remove all US missiles from secret locations in the Philippines, and send home all interventionist US military forces from the country must be strengthened. This demand should be linked to the people’s struggle to break free from the clutches of imperialist predators, attain independence, and build a free and prosperous nation.