Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 29) — Former President Rodrigo Duterte has warned that the Philippines would not escape the wrath of China once tensions with the United States rise amid the expanded American military presence in the country.
During a show on SMNI news earlier this week, Dutert said he “regularly” meets with Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian to maintain an open discussion and relay that the Philippines “does not have a quarrel with China.”
However, he noted that the Chinese envoy stressed that if the national government “provides places where there can be an aggressive action to China, the Philippines would always be a target.”
Duterte then questioned the Marcos’ administration’s decision to grant the US government more military bases.
“If we are fighting a war and destroying the allies nearby, ang Pilipinas ay tatamaan talaga (the Philippines will surely be hit) because of the presence of military forces of the US,” he said. “What is really sad is the Philippines granting military bases for the US.”
He also noted that thinking that the US would not bring nuclear weapons would be “too pretty naive or stupidity.”
“I said by granting America several bases, we can be sure, and I am sure as the sun will rise in the east, that these nuclear bases… will have nuclear warheads,” Duterte said.
The former chief executive warned that radioactive materials falling on the Philippines would remain here for more than 50 years.
“It would not only be destructive,” Duterte said. “I believe that the Philippines would be a graveyard if war comes.”
“These were the things in my mind when I was pondering the entrance of these EDCA (Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement) into my country,” he added.
In April, the Palace identified four new EDCA sites—a move that alarmed China as these are all located in Luzon.
READ: Endangering peace: China warns PH over EDCA expansion plans with US
The Marcos administration has reiterated that the EDCA sites are aimed at beefing up Filipino military capacity.
