The League of Filipino Students condemned US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth for his statement regarding the Trump administration’s purported latest foreign policy concerning Asia which is “deterrence through strength.” This is supposedly achieved through the prepositioning of US weapons, vehicles, and personnel in the country. Hegseth promoted this line during his recent visit to the Philippines on March 28-29.

“Stationing American firepower (in the region) will not deter war,” LFS chairperson Lloyd Manango said. “The only real ‘deterrence’ is the demilitarization of the West Philippine Sea and an independent foreign policy [for the Philippines].”

Hegseth announced that during the upcoming Balikatan exercises, American troops are set to bring NMESIS (Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System), an advanced coastal anti-ship missile system of the US Marine Corps. Prior to this, the Trump administration reportedly deployed another Typhon missile system in the country, adding to what the US prepositioned here in 2024, although officials refuse to confirm this.

This is not about war deterrence, not when the US is responsible for starting almost all wars of aggression in the 21st century, according to the youth organization.

“Don’t tell us this is about the West Philippine Sea, especially when US forces are scattered across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, and especially not when the Marcos admin accepted $500 million in military aid,” Manango said.

The LFS calls on all peace- and freedom-loving Filipinos to stand up for Philippine sovereignty and fight against the outbreak of imperialist war.

“We must demand the immediate expulsion of all US military forces, bases, and war materiel in the Philippines, as well as the dismantling of all Chinese bases in the West Philippine Sea,” it said.