US Shapes Philippines into Southeast Asia's Ukraine

Update on growing tensions between China and the US in Asia-Pacific… - US is expanding its military footprint in its former colony of the Philippines in Southeast Asia; - The US is using ordinary maritime disputes as a pretext for inserting itself into the region & escalating the disputes into a regional or global crisis; - The Philippines' government is canceling joint infrastructure projects with China while signing new basing agreements with the US despite China begin the Philippines' largest and most important trading partner; - As with Ukraine in Eastern Europe, the Philippines is attempting to convince the public that the West offers better opportunities when in reality the country is simply being used as a disposable battering ram; - Philippine leadership has been shaped by decades of US political interference including programs like Fulbright and YSEALI which indoctrinate youth and move them into positions of influence through NED-funded programs; References: NEO - US Shapes Philippines into Southeast Asia’s “Ukraine” (November 2, 2023): Politico - Biden will meet Xi Jinping in coming weeks, White House says (October 31, 2023): BBC - South China Sea: Why the Philippines and China are on a collision course (October 23, 2023): AP - US renews warning it will defend treaty ally Philippines after Chinese ships rammed Manila vessels (October 23, 2023): Benar News (US government-funded) - Philippines drops funding deal with China for 3 railway projects (October 26, 2023): Benar News - About Benar News (funding via United States Agency for Global Media - USAGM): CSIS - A New Era in the Alliance: A Discussion with Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo (April 11, 2023): Fulbright - What is the Fulbright U.S. Student Program: Fulbright - Maria Ressa: US State Department, Office of the HIstorian - The Philippine-American War, 1899–1902: Harvard University’s Atlas of Economic Complexity - Philippines Trade Partners 2021: Washington Post - U.S. reaches military base access agreement in the Philippines (February 1, 2023): Reuters - Exclusive: U.S military in talks to develop port in Philippines facing Taiwan (August 2023): Nikkei Asia - Malaysia burns illegal fishing boats to send a message (2017): Bloomberg - A Rusting Shipwreck Becomes a Flashpoint in the South China Sea (November 7, 2023): VOA - Japan, Philippines Boost Alliance to Counter China, Analysts Say (November 4, 2023): Where to Find My Work: Website: Telegram: Twitter: Odysee (YouTube alternative): @LandDestroyer:8 Rumble (YouTube alternative): Weibo: ไบรอัน แฟนคลับ (Facebook): Line Group: Gab: VK (Facebook alternative): How to Support my Work (and thank you!): Buy Me A Coffee: Patreon: PromptPay: 0851547235 Cryptocurrency Donations: Ethereum (ETH): 0xee6ed93c3adc474450011e9af22939a0b9b312c7 BitCoin (BTC): 1AfGnbmHxA6cy9YKUSxysXvpJPyecpBKrr Monero (XMR): 845TCXx3pchSBXuDL7FHG679gbWD2wkHS6MJxuq7jFVsVFj7T6xsry747uhhGZUdkaRXbbrMfo5c8RnGfzGZ13KxQUdHVLR