Communists warn Duterte about China’s ‘imperialist ambitions’

MANILA, Philippines – The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) – founded nearly 50 years ago on the teachings of Mao Tse Tung – warned President Rodrigo Duterte against serving China’s “imperialist self-interest” as he forges closer ties with the economic giant.

In a statement sent to media and published in the October 21, 2016 issue of the party’s official publication, Ang Bayan, the CPP described China as one of the “biggest capitalist countries” in the world that harbors its own “imperialist ambitions.”

While the CPP welcomed closer ties with the Asian giant as a positive move away from US dominance in the region, it reminded the Philippine president of his mandate to protect Filipino interests and for him not to allow Chinese companies to abuse Philippine labor and resources in agriculture and basic industries.

“The Party and revolutionary movement has a critical view of the Duterte regime’s policy of amity and friendship with China,” the statement said.

“If Duterte will not uphold the democratic interests of the people, Philippine ties with China will only lead to replacing the giant that dominates and plunders the country and the perpetuation of foreign monopoly capitalist plunder of the country,” the CPP said.

The CPP’s political arm, the National Democratic Front, is currently in talks with the Duterte administration for a peaceful settlement of Asia’s longest running communist rebellion. 

The guerrillas supported Duterte in the last elections. The President has returned the favor, appointing at least 3 NDF nominees to Cabinet posts.

Duterte has also released at least 20 political prisoners who are now part of the NDF delegation in the peace process.

The rebels said Duterte’s friendship with China “can help the Filipino people in their struggle to break free from US control and domination and end reliance on US imperialism.”

But a complete break can only happen, they stressed, if the guerrillas win and Duterte strikes a “patriotic alliance” with them. – Rappler.com