Statement
June 28, 2024
Earlier this month, New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Philippines Foreign
Secretary Enrique Manalo announced that they would enter into a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) later this year. A VFA between the two countries is an agreement to have closer military ties making it easier
for the armed forces of the two countries to work together.
ICHRP condemns this agreement which is purported to ‘ensure peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific’. It will do the
opposite and further heighten tensions between the USA and China in the South China Sea.
The newly proposed VFA with New Zealand echoes the VFAs that the Philippine Government has previously signed with the
USA and Australia, and adds to the increasing number of new military agreements brokered by the Marcos Jr regime. Since
the beginning of his term, Marcos Jr has struck updated military agreements with the US, penned memorandums of
understanding with Canada and the UK, and is currently in talks to form VFA-like agreements with France, Japan and now
New Zealand.
These military agreements further embolden the fascist Philippine military to violate human rights and international
humanitarian law against valiant Filipinos who are defending their national sovereignty and longing for genuine
democracy, social justice and a just peace. These agreements amplify the increasing US militarization of the
Asia-Pacific and do nothing to further peace in the region.
Tensions are high in the South China Sea – West Philippine Sea with both China and the US using the waters around the
Philippines as a zone for their ongoing competition for influence in the region.
The US is becoming increasingly provocative in the region and just last month carried out military drills that were
clearly orchestrated to goad China. While New Zealand troops did not participate in this exercise they were there as
observers and the New Zealand Government has indicated that they may participate in future military drills in the
region.
As New Zealand lines up with Australia and the USA, the prospect for peace diminishes and the people of the Philippines
find themselves in the dangerous position of being on the front line in the escalating tensions between the two
superpowers.
In the interests of peace for the people of the Philippines, ICHRP calls on the government of New Zealand to uphold an
independent foreign policy, to junk the VFA and to use its diplomacy and influence to call for a just peace in the
Philippines. We further call on people around the globe to rise up in opposition to the growing war mongering of the US
and its allies in the Asia- Pacific.