"The Manila Times" reported on April 2 that Filipino fishermen are protesting against the continued military deployment of the United States in the Philippines, which has seriously affected the fishing ecology of the Philippines.

During the Manila visit last week, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has confirmed the deployment of advanced military assets, including the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System, as well as unmanned surface vessels, to bolster regional security amid rising tensions in the South China Sea, according to "The Manila Times," the action met with criticism within Filipino fishing communities.

("The Manila Times" releases the article on April 2: 'US military presence harmful to fishing communities')

"We are not soldiers, but we are the first casualties in this conflict. Every time there is a military exercise, we lose access to traditional fishing grounds. Explosions in the sea drive away fish, and pollution resulting from military drills poisons the waters. It's destroying our livelihood," a fisherman who requested anonymity told "The Manila Times" in Filipino.

Fishermen interviewed by "The Manila Times" said live ammunition drills cause irreparable environmental damage.

They said missile fragments, gunpowder, and fuel spills disrupt marine ecosystems, harming coral reefs and depleting fish stocks. Local fishery organizations have claimed that repeated military activities have significantly affected the volume of their catch, further exacerbating economic hardships.

(A soldier participates in a military free fall during the US-Philippines Balikatan joint military exercise on a beach at San Vicente in Palawan on April 30, 2024. /CFP)

Local fisherfolk groups expressed that the military alliance between the U.S. and the Philippines is unnecessarily provoking conflicts in the region. Some view the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) as a mechanism that pushes the Philippines into a geopolitical struggle, harming the interests of local fishermen.

"The U.S. is using the Philippines as a pawn against China, but what do we get in return? We get harassment at sea, tighter restrictions on where we can fish, and an economy that keeps getting worse. We want jobs, not war. We want long-term solutions, not band-aid aid packages," said another fisherman from Palawan.

(With input from "The Manila Times")