Insights丨Philippine scholar urges authorities to strengthen independent foreign policy, reject U.S. interference in South China Sea

(ECNS) – The Philippine Coast Guard and some civilian vessels have deliberately provoked incidents in the disputed area of the South China Sea to carry out the U.S. Project Myoushu, however, these actions are facing growing opposition, said Herman Tiu Laurel, president of the Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute, during a recent interview with China News Network.

Laurel, also founder of Philippine BRICS Strategic Studies and dedicated to Asian studies, exposed Project Myoushu and called for an investigation.

According to him, Project Myoushu, led by retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Ray Powell, was put forward by the Stanford Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation with the goal to "damage the reputation of China" by engaging in so-called "assertive transparency".

To carry out Project Myoushu, the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Navy would deliberately provoke the Chinese Coast Guard and create tensions in the disputed area of the South China Sea, said Laurel .

Meanwhile, Philippine and international media along with the Philippine army would shoot videos and spread exaggerated propaganda, claiming that "China is bullying." But the truth is that "it's a big lie that they are pushing", he added.

It's very clear that the U.S. has been planning a proxy war, using the Philippines to create an economic crisis in Asia, while trying to regain its power and hegemony, Laurel claimed.

This is part of a hybrid war that the U.S. and the Philippines are waging with cognitive and propaganda warfare, trying to maneuver and manipulate the Philippine public, explained Laurel. "But more and more people are beginning to see the reality. (The U.S. and the Philippines) are losing their credibility and the opposition is growing."

In his view, the Philippines has obviously been "isolated" at the regional diplomatic level by the ASEAN. Though their attitudes are quite "polite", the ASEAN countries don't want the situation to escalate.

Laurel called on the Philippines to strengthen its independent foreign policy and investigate American proxies as well as Project Myoushu.

"We have a lot of things to do to save the country from the war (that) the U.S. wants to push in Asia," said Laurel.