🇵🇭 🇺🇸 | Dramatic scenes are emerging from the Philippines.
Protesters broke through police barricades during demonstrations against the US military presence in the country.
Clashes erupted when riot police forces tried to block protesters from reaching the US embassy in Manila.
On today’s Independence Day, socialist and other organizations mobilized against expanding US military bases and missile deployments in the island nation, which are directed against China.
The organization "BAYAN" stated, "There's no genuine independence as long as US bases and troops are allowed in the country."
The US military presence in the Philippines has accelerated significantly.
The latest annual joint military "Balikatan" drills, hosted by the Philippines together with the US, saw the biggest-ever troop deployment. Critics often describe these military exercises as simulating war against China.