Trump In Philippines: Protests Against President During ASEAN Summit In Manila

Riot police used water cannons to prevent hundreds of activists and protesters who marched towards the United States embassy in Manila, Philippines, to protest against Donald Trump's arrival in the country Sunday. Nearly 3500 protesters took to streets a few hours before President Donald Trump reached the Philippines for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit. This is the last leg of Trump’s 12-day Asia tour.

Fearing that Trump wants more military bases in the Philippines and will drag their country into the North Korea conflict, the left-wing protesters chanted and held signs that read – "Dump Trump," "Down with U.S. Imperialism" and "Ban Trump." Police blocked the demonstrators with shields and batons.

According to the National, there were no reports of injuries and the protesters left after burning a mock U.S. flag.

According to Abc.net.au, after the protesters were scattered, an 18-year-old student Alexis Danday said, "Trump is the CEO of the imperialist government of the U.S. We know he is here to push for unfair treaties between the Philippines and the U.S."

According to the Rappler, the protesters' rallying cry was "Ban Trump in the Philippines." The publication reported that according to various militant groups, at least 1,500 protesters are expected to take to streets on Monday, Nov. 13, at the beginning of the ASEAN summit.

Twitter users have posted various videos of the protest against Trump in the Philippines. A video of the protest was posted on Twitter by Aie Balagtas See, a Filipino journalist.

Another journalist Doris Bigornia also took to the social media to post a video of the protest wherein the protesters are burning an effigy of president Trump.

The Rappler reported that on Friday, Nov. 10, Laban ng Masa, a new progressive opposition coalition, said they are calling for the end of "U.S. encroachment on the sovereignty of the nations in Asia through war and one-sided economic relations." According to the coalition, Trump’s objective of this 12-day Asian tour was to convince and include Asian nations in U.S. "war rhetorics."

"The primary objective of Trump’s visit is trade and security in the ASEAN region. But based on his visits to Japan and South Korea, it seems like he wants to involve the Philippines in the U.S. war rhetorics against North Korea. He wants to involve ASEAN nations in waging wars," said Elijah San Pedro, a student leader during the conference.

According to Abc.net.au, Trump will hold talks with the President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte, in Manila. During his meet, Trump will try to build relations that were strained by Duterte’s notorious anti-U.S. sentiment.

Trump had offered to mediate in the South China Sea disputes and said, "I’m a very good mediator and arbitrator." Trump averred this during a news conference with Vietnamese president Tran Dai Quang in Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi, before he flew to Manila, reported the National.

Others participating in Manila for the summit meetings include Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and leaders from Japan, Canada, South Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand as well as the member states of ASEAN.