UNITED States Vice President Kamala Harris' recent visit to the Philippines shows that the country is fast becoming a major focus of the US-China rivalry, as the West begins to question the value of dragging on the Ukraine conflict. We welcome partnerships that can contribute to our national development, but the US' proposal to add five more military bases will unnecessarily and without question put the Philippines dangerously in the crossfire between the giants, according to three nationalists and former officials who participated in IDSI's recent webinar titled 'Implications of VP Kamala's visit, is PBBM shifting PH's Independent Foreign Policy?'

The Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) is about to expire in 2023. We need now a vigorous national debate on whether we should renew the EDCA.