By
Kazi Mahmood, IOL Southeast Asia correspondent
JAKARTA,
March 20 (IslamOnline) - The Chinese embassy in Manila assured the
Philippine authorities Tuesday that Beijing is not funding leftwing
groups or Muslim insurgents in Mindanao, as the U.S. prepared to
send five hundred more troops from the U.S. Army’s 101st
(Airborne) Infantry Division to Mindanao before this weekend.
Earlier
press reports suggested that China was behind the financial floating
of rebel movements in the Philippines. The report said the Chinese
supported communist elements fighting for the establishment of a
leftist regime in the country.
The
report also said Muslim rebels were benefiting from Chinese handout
of funds to Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
In
a statement issued Tuesday, March 19, the Chinese embassy described
the secessionist struggle in the southern Philippines as an
“internal affair” that does not concern China.
An
American political analyst said that the U.S. was expanding
participation in Balikatan or “War games” to help cut foreign
funding, particularly from the Chinese and North Koreans, to local
secessionist groups.
In
the meantime, the U.S. has decided to enlarge its participation in
the ongoing war games in Basilan, the favorite hideout of the Abu
Sayyaf kidnap gang.
Five
hundred more troops from the U.S. Army’s 101st (Airborne) Infantry
Division are scheduled to arrive in Mindanao before this weekend.
Several
soldiers from the first batch of American soldiers on Philippines
soil said it was tough terrain and that it was very difficult to
trace the Abu Sayyaf kidnappers.
The
Abu Sayyaf is still holding two American missionaries and a Filipina
nurse as hostage for more than nine months now.
Manila’s
defense department said the additional American troops would be
deployed to Central Mindanao “as part of an extended Balikatan
exercise.”
However,
other press reports in Manila claimed the reinforcement of U.S.
troops was to prepare against the Abu Sayyaf possible launch of
attacks in time for the Holy Week in the Philippines.
