RYAN LEAGOGO/蜜桃工作室
MANILA, Philippines鈥擳he Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) will not help the Philippines stand up against the aggressiveness of China, a militant group reiterated on Thursday.
鈥淲e should stand on our own feet and get the support of all countries who respect our sovereignty, not just the US and not through the return of US troops,鈥� Former Bayan听Muna听Partylist听Representative Teddy听Casi帽o听told reporters.
鈥淓dca听will only worsen the situation and escalate the possibility of conflict in the region,鈥� he said.
Militant groups marched to the US Embassy Thursday to commemorate Philippine Independence Day and to protest the听Edca.
Edca听was signed by the Philippines and US last April 2014 paving for the increased rotational presence of US troops that will be stationed in 鈥渁greed locations鈥� throughout the country.
The agreement is widely regarded as a deterrent to China鈥檚 aggressive territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
Bagong听Alyansang听Makabayan听(Bayan) secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. said that听Edca听allows US troops to stay indefinitely because of its provision allowing automatic renewal after an initial period of 10 years.
He said the agreement 鈥済rossly undermines鈥� Philippine Independence.
The protesters were blocked by police in front of the National Library of the Philippines in Manila where they held their program.
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