Anti-corruption protests in the Philippines: a growing risk to first island chain stability and an opening for strategic PRC intervention

On November 16, 2025, the largest autumn protest action against the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took place in Manila, with over 500,000 people participating. It was provoked by the destruction and casualties from Typhoon "Uwan" (November 3-13), most of which occurred due to the lack of critical infrastructure.

It also intensified the overall anti-corruption movement, aimed at investigating facts of embezzlement by officials of billions of pesos allocated for disaster mitigation facilities.

Despite the fact that the protest movement, which began in September 2025, has already led to political transformations—specifically, the resignations of Ministers, speakers of both houses of parliament, and representatives of the executive apparatus, as well as the creation of an Independent Commission on Infrastructure Issues—protesters continue to demand deeper reforms and accountability for all those involved in the misuse of funds.