More than 5,000 U.S. and Filipino soldiers have launched two weeks of joint military drills in the Philippines. The annual drills opened one week after the unveiling of a 10-year agreement to revive the U.S. military presence in the Philippines. On Monday, activists protested the deal outside the Filipino army headquarters.

Renato Reyes: “The U.S. forces can come to the Philippines, can use our facilities, rent free, tax free. They can access anywhere in the country, turning the whole place into a military base. Even private defense contractors are given tax perks. This a grossly unequal agreement that benefits only the superpower.”