With great joy, let us celebrate the
57th anniversary of the great Communist Party of the Philippines! On
this historic occasion, the Central Committee extends its warmest
greetings to all cadres and members of the Party, to members of allied
revolutionary organizations of the National Democratic Front, to
friends, fellow communist, revolutionary and anti-imperialist forces in
different corners of the world, and to the entire Filipino people.
On this day, let us remember and honor all the heroes and martyrs of
the Philippine revolution. Let us rise and, with clenched fists, pay
tribute to the memory of Comrade Jose Maria Sison, founding chairman of
the Central Committee, who served as guide and beacon of the Party and
several generations of communist and revolutionary activists. Let us
also pay tribute to the memory of all the heroes and martyrs of the
Filipino people, including the most beloved leaders who served in the
Central Committee, the Red fighters of the New People’s Army, and all
the cadres and members who wholeheartedly dedicated their lives to the
cause of liberation for all oppressed.
Let us salute Comrade Luis Jalandoni, former international
representative of the NDFP and chief of the NDFP panel in peace talks,
who passed away in June in The Netherlands; and Comrade Maria Malaya
(Myrna Sularte), who was killed by the enemy in a battle in the
mountains of Butuan City in February. Let us also extend our salutations
to Comrade Basavaraju, former general secretary of the Central
Committee of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), and Comrade Madvi
Hidma, commander of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army in India, and
to all other revolutionaries around the world who gave their lives for
the international proletariat. Let us draw inspiration from their
glorious lives.
On this day, let us also greet all new members of the Party,
especially the young cadres from the ranks of the toiling masses,
intellectuals, and other sectors of society. You are the future of the
Party and the Philippine revolution. Study hard, seek guidance, sharpen
your minds, and be humble in facing the challenges of leadership in
various fields of revolutionary work. You have the support of veteran
and experienced cadres and members of the Party who are willing to offer
advice and share their experiences.
Let us today raise the banner of Marxism-Leninism-Maoism, the solid
theoretical foundation on which the Party stands. This is the universal
theory for the liberation of the working class and all oppressed
classes. Let us consolidate the basic principles of the Party and its
program for a people’s democratic revolution through a protracted
people’s war, to end the oppressive semicolonial and semifeudal system,
overthrow the three basic problems of imperialism, feudalism, and
bureaucratic capitalism, and achieve democracy and national liberation
to create the conditions for a socialist future.
We are now entering the third year of our rectification movement,
which is primarily a Marxist-Leninist-Maoist study movement. In the
spirit of the rectification movement, we have reviewed our experiences
and critically identified our weaknesses and errors. The Central
Committee is pleased to report that our rectification movement continues
to bear fruit and has achieved meaningful advances in the ideological,
political, and organizational fields. We are confident that with the
continued efforts of all cadres and members of the Party, under the
leadership of the Central Committee, we will achieve even greater
victories in the years to come.
Under the guidance of Marxism-Leninism-Maoism, let us sharply analyze
the main contradictions that shape the current situation in the country
and the world. Let us grasp the chronic crisis of the semicolonial and
semifeudal system in the Philippines, and the prolonged stagnation of
the global capitalist system. This opens up many great opportunities for
advancing the cause of the working class and all oppressed and
exploited classes for liberation.
At the beginning of the current year, we expected the crisis of the
ruling system under the US-Marcos regime to erupt. However, this was
surpassed by the speed with which the situation matured and exploded
since the middle of the year. This shows not only the depths of the
economic and social crisis, but even more so, the overflowing anger of
the Filipino people against the oppression and suffering inflicted on
them by the exploiting and plundering ruling classes.
The crisis will undoubtedly continue in the face of the Marcos
regime’s immense corruption, unleashing of fascist terrorism, and the
utter foreign subservience. The US-Marcos regime today is the most
concentrated form of the oppression and suffering of the Filipino
people. In the coming year, the protest movement that has surged in
recent months is bound to grow and expand, to hold accountable and force
the ouster of Marcos and Duterte, who both represent the most
reactionary factions of the ruling classes. At the same time, widespread
struggles in the countryside will surely erupt in the face of unbridled
land grabbing and plunder of the country’s resources.
The conditions in the Philippines are indeed excellent for the Party
to lead the further advance of the people’s democratic revolution
through protracted people’s war. Let us seize the opportunity to further
expand and strengthen the Party and the entire revolutionary movement,
and look forward to bigger achievements in the future.
I. Escalating conflicts in the face of unresolved crisis of the global capitalist system
The entire world is rocked by four main contradictions: between the
monopoly bourgeoisie and the working class, between imperialism and the
oppressed peoples around the world, between imperialist powers and
countries assertive of national sovereignty, and between rival
imperialist countries. Currently, the intensifying political, financial,
economic, trade, and military conflicts between the biggest imperialist
countries are the principal contradiction, particularly in the face of
the US imperialism’s relentless imposition of its hegemony over the
entire world. This is the principal contradiction that shapes the
current situation in the entire world.
Armed conflicts are erupting in various parts of the world, primarily
due to the aggressive actions of US imperialism. This is closely linked
to the prolonged economic stagnation in major capitalist countries,
which the monopoly bourgeoisie have failed resolve. This is the result
of the continuing crisis of overproduction in almost all industries, and
the growing inventory of unsold goods. There is an excess of productive
capacity, especially in the major industrialized countries. This is due
to the rivalry between companies to outdo each other in producing the
most goods.
There is overproduction in almost all industries due to the
continuous development of productive forces, particularly the advances
in technology (including the use of artificial intelligence or AI).
There is excess capacity in the production of electronic equipment,
semiconductors, batteries, electric and gasoline-powered vehicles, solar
panels, steel, oil and petroleum, chemicals, ships, commercial
transportation, airplanes, and many others. There is also overproduction
in almost all agricultural products (rice, corn, soybeans, wheat, and
others), especially in capitalist countries.
Productive forces are being laid to waste or destroyed. Due to
overproduction, many industries are operating below their production
capacity. In the US, for example, only 60%–70% of its car production
capacity is being utilized. In Germany, only 70% of its total production
capacity is being used, idling billions of dollars worth of production
equipment. In China, factories have the capacity to produce up to 45
million electric vehicles, but this is not being fully utilized because
global market sales are only at 16–18 million. More and more companies
are losing money or being gobbled up in the face of intense capitalist
competition.
The AI bubble is growing rapidly, fueled by the monopoly big
bourgeoisie. Trillions of dollars are set to be invested in AI in the
coming years, with an unprecedented scale of investment in
infrastructure and bonds, far exceeding expected demand and returns.
This is being compared to the “dotcom” bubble of the 1990s, which
eventually burst and resulted in a financial crisis.
The problem of massive layoffs, reduced working hours, or factory
closures is becoming more severe. In the US, nearly 560,000 companies
went bankrupt in a year from September 2024, a 10% increase from the
previous year, the highest since 2010; including 32 with over $1 billion
in assets, which closed in 12 months from September 2024. Over the past
decade, at least 100,000 capitalist farms in the US have folded due to
the continued decline in commodity prices. In Germany, a total of 22,000
companies are expected to shutter this year (60 per day), the highest
in a decade. In the UK, over 2,000 companies are closing every month
this year, while 50,000 businesses are in a critical situation. In
China, only 15 companies (out of 129) are expected to remain standing in
the e-vehicle industry in the next five years.
Unemployment continues to worsen globally. In the technology sector,
it is estimated that over 200,000 workers will be laid off by the end of
the year (70% of them in the US), including 24,000 at Intel, 14,000 at
Amazon, 13,000 at Verizon, and 9,000 at Microsoft. The US automotive
industry has announced that 15,000 workers (20% more than last year)
will be laid off this year. Up to 60,000 workers in the electric vehicle
sector in China are estimated to have been laid off since 2024. Over
48,000 employees of United Parcel Service were also fired due to the
decline in deliveries.
The global economy is stuck in stagnation and slow growth. The
economies of all capitalist centers are facing growing threats of
recession. The slow growth of the global economy has been going on for
close to two decades since the 2008 financial crisis. The global economy
rebounded in 2022 after collapsing in 2020–2021. This year, growth
estimates, including that of the World Bank and IMF, is put at only
2.3%, lower than the already low 2.5% growth in 2024, due to widespread
business closures, layoffs, and low demand caused by high inflation,
especially in consumer goods.
The US economy remains on the brink of recession, which is estimated
to grow by only 1.7–2% this year. Almost half (22) of the US states are
already in recession. Under the “America First” policy of the Trump
government, desperate measures were implemented to revive the economy
and industry. These include raising tariffs on almost all imported US
goods with the declared intention of protecting and supporting local
industry and manufacturing. However, over the past 11 months, industrial
production has remained stagnant or even declined, including in steel
and automobiles, due to excess global production and inventories.
The European Union’s economy is expected to grow by a mere 1.3%,
including the flatlining German economy, which is expected to grow by
only 0.2% (down from -0.3% in 2024). The United Kingdom has been on the
brink of recession since last year. Japan’s economy contracted by 2.3%
in the third quarter, and it’s not expected to grow by more than 1% for
the entire year. China’s economy continues to slow down, with an
expected growth of only 5% (down from over 10% growth in 2000–2010), due
to the collapse of real estate projects (including unoccupied
condominiums and office buildings), accumulated unpaid local debt, and a
decline in investment in manufacturing and infrastructure.
In total, it is estimated that 40–60 countries are currently on the
brink of recession. In addition to the major capitalist centers, this
includes several advanced economies in Europe such as Austria, Germany,
Italy, France, and Switzerland, which have negative or zero economic
growth rates, as well as a dozen or so underdeveloped countries.
The severe crisis of the capitalist system is further exacerbating
environmental degradation and the climate crisis. The major capitalist
countries are openly refusing to curb their exploitation of natural
resources and raw materials, leading to increasing industrial pollution
and global warming. The annual “climate change conference” sham
initiated by the UN, including the recent one held in Brazil, has proved
itself inutile.
Amid the crisis of the global capitalist system, the underdeveloped,
agrarian, and backward economies of colonial, semicolonial, and
semifeudal countries are further deteriorating. These countries have
been crippled by decades of neoliberal policies that have exposed them
to a flood of foreign surplus goods and the plunder of foreign
capitalist investment. Due to unequal exchange, they suffer from chronic
trade deficits, financial crises, and debt dependence. As the
competition among the monopoly bourgeoisie for the cheapest raw
materials intensifies, these countries are increasingly being exploited
by imperialist powers. Billions of people in these countries suffer from
widespread unemployment, low wages, land grabbing, and other forms of
suffering and oppression.
Countries continue to resort to borrowing to try to overcome the
crisis in their economies, finance state subsidies for struggling
companies, fund infrastructure, and increase defense spending. In just
the first six months of 2025, global debt surged by $21 trillion to
nearly $340 trillion by mid-year. The total global debt represents
approximately 290% of global production, almost equal to the peak
reached in 2023. Most of the global debt is held by the US, Japan,
China, and several major European countries, with the US accounting for
one-third. Public debt is expected to grow from $102 trillion at the end
of 2024 to $115 trillion by the end of the year. The public debt of
underdeveloped countries has reached $31 trillion, doubling in the past
15 years. At least 35 countries are at risk of debt default.
The deepening global crisis of capitalism has triggered intense
rivalries among imperialists and conflicts around the world. Trump
imposed additional tariffs on almost all countries as leverage to obtain
trade concessions (including the entry of more US products and
contracts for the sale of surplus military equipment). By doing so, he
further intensified economic and trade competition among imperialists
and deepened anti-US sentiments worldwide.
The threat of major armed conflicts breaking out in various parts of
the world continues to grow, with the increased military spending of
imperialists. This surged by 9.4% in 2024 to $2.72 trillion, the largest
increase in over three decades. This rise continued into 2025. Military
spending by the US is expected to reach $1 trillion this year. Under
the new National Security Strategy (2025) of the US (mainly focused on
China and Russia), it declared its goal of developing the “most
powerful, most advanced, and most technologically advanced” military
force.
The US emphasizes that it needs to surpass China in power over the
seas and the “first island chain” surrounding the country. Its supposed
goal is to “avoid confrontation,” but its measures only increases the
likelihood of armed conflict and wars. In its own hemisphere, the US is
now planning to invade Venezuela (in South America) under the guise of
“fighting drug cartels” to overthrow the anti-imperialist government of
Maduro and establish a puppet government. After the prolonged war in
Ukraine provoked by the US and NATO, the US is now pushing for an
agreement to divide the country’s resources and land. In the Middle
East, the US continues to collaborate with the Zionist state of Israel
in the genocidal war against Palestine, which has killed at least 67,000
Palestinians in the two-year bombardment of Gaza since October 2023.
Despite the US-brokered “ceasefire” in October, Zionist forces continue
its attacks, resulting in the killing of at least 400 Palestinians. The
US is planning to control parts of the Gaza Strip, even if it goes
against Israel’s plan to annex the entire territory. In July, the US and
Israel bombed Iran, which defended itself with counterstrikes.
The “comprehensive strategic partnership” between Russia and China
continues to strengthen in the form of increased trade (especially in
oil and energy) and military cooperation. The BRICS alliance (Brazil,
Russia, India, China, and South Africa) continues to expand, now with
ten member countries, after Indonesia joined this year (after Egypt,
Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates).
In response to Trump’s tariffs, many countries continue their efforts
to move away from the dollar in financial transactions, even as it
remains dominant. This includes yuan-based oil sales by Saudi Arabia and
other Middle Eastern (especially to China), the yuan and rubble-based
China-Russia trade, and local currency trade in ASEAN. From negligible
levels before 2022, non-dollar transactions now account for 20% of
global trade, contributing to the decline in the dollar’s value and the
increasing purchase of gold. Since 2022–2024, gold sales have exceeded
1,000 tons, from the annual 450–500 tons in 2010–2021.
The ongoing crisis in capitalist countries has triggered intensifying
class contradictions. Workers” struggles continue to intensify in
capitalist centers, including the Amazon workers” strikes in the US and
other countries. This year, massive strikes by workers in China for wage
increases, particularly at the BYD company (an electric vehicle
manufacturer), broke out in mid-year. Widespread strikes and protests by
workers in Japanese ports took place from March to May. In Europe,
general strikes by workers and citizens took place in Belgium, the
Netherlands, Portugal, Italy, and France in December, against austerity
policies that mainly affect pensions, wages, and social services. Major
strikes have also taken place in recent months in Germany, Spain, the
UK, and other countries.
In response to the growing resistance of workers and people, states
are markedly turning to openly fascist policies. In the US, Donald
Trump’s authoritarianism is worsening, with blatant disregard for laws
and legal processes in the violent crackdown on immigrants, who make up a
large part of the working class. Encouraged by the monopoly
bourgeoisie, fascist and conservative parties and movements are growing
stronger, with some elected to government. Attacks against Muslims and
Arabs (at worst levels in the US in the past three decades, linked to
the Trump administration’s suppression of pro-Palestinian protests),
Blacks and Latinos in the US, LGBT individuals, and migrants in Europe
continue to worsen. As part of the growing fascist trend, laws and
policies that suppress civil rights are being implemented, such as the
strengthening of mass surveillance, the use of drones, AI, and other
technologies that violate privacy rights. After more than three years,
the Zionist state’s genocidal war in Gaza continues. Mainly at the
instigation of the US, the United Nations is being undermined by fund
reductions, particularly for its human rights agencies.
The growing fascization of states in the US and other countries is
pushing people to strengthen anti-fascist struggles around the world.
Major anti-fascist rallies and protests have taken place, including a
7-million-strong rally in over 2,700 gatherings in the US against
Trump’s fascist ambitions. In Europe, large anti-fascist rallies have
taken place in the Netherlands, France, Germany, the UK, Norway, and
other countries. Mass demonstrations by millions of people continue
around the world against the ongoing genocide by the US and the Zionist
state in Gaza.
