Youth activist group Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK) called out AFP chief General Romeo Brawner, Jr. for the latter’s wish to “have the Typhons here in the Philippines forever,” which was expressed at an ambush interview the other day.
SPARK National Coordinator John Lazaro stated that General Brawner’s statement reeked of “childlike faith” in the United States, “dangerously blind to the fact that the missile system’s presence puts every Filipino in the line of fire.” The US Typhon mid-range missile systems stationed in Laoag are able to reach deep into mainland China. Manila has previously announced in July this year that the Typhon missile systems will be withdrawn as a “gesture” to ease tensions with Beijing.
However, on September 20, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año stated in an interview that the Philippine government has no plans for the withdrawal of the missiles. A day before, on September 19, Philippine Army spokesperson Colonel Louie Dema-ala clarified in an interview with foreign correspondents that the presence of the Typhon missiles was not just dependent on Philippine authorities, but also with the United States Army Pacific Command (USARPAC).
Philippine officials cite the supposed benefit of the missiles deterring Chinese aggression.
Responding to these statements, SPARK national coordinator John Lazaro stated that “President Marcos and his generals do not have Filipino’s best interests at heart. They would rather play the role of ‘little brown brother’ to the US, just like his father before him, even if it means painting a big target sign all over the Philippines.”
Lazaro pointed out that the US itself has a history of reacting negatively to missiles from geopolitical rivals being stated close to its borders: “the Soviets kept missiles next door to the US, in Cuba, in 1962, because the US kept missiles in Turkey. The Cuban missile crisis very nearly led to open warfare between the two superpowers, prevented only by the superpowers cutting Cuba out of negotiations entirely.”
The activist added, “the US treats us as a forward operating base, not a friend and equal. This is not about dealing with Chinese maritime aggression against Filipinos. This is about Washington’s new Cold War, this time against Beijing. Do not be surprised if China reacts the same way the US did in 1962.”
SPARK advocates for the Philippines to turn to ASEAN to call for a regional diplomatic solution with China on territorial disputes in the South China Sea, or what the group refers to as the Southeast Asian Sea. The youth group opposes both China’s aggression and the US’ opportunistic use of the disputes to turn its economic competition with China into military competition.
