U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris met with Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Manila Monday, where she vowed the U.S. would expand its military presence in the Philippines. Her meeting comes amid growing tensions between the U.S. and China over the status of Taiwan, and as China and the Philippines square off over disputed islands in the South China Sea.

Vice President Kamala Harris: “An armed attack on the Philippines armed forces, public vessels or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments. And that is an unwavering commitment that we have to the Philippines.”

Dozens of protesters gathered near the presidential palace in Manila denouncing Harris’s visit and U.S. intervention in the Philippines.

Liza Maza: “We also are against the warmongering of the United States for the sake of asserting its hegemony in this part of the world. We don’t want our country to be used as a springboard or launching pad of the wars of the United States against China or any other country. We want a peaceful Philippines and a peaceful region.”