Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 4) — Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez does not agree with China’s statements that the development of new sites under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the US will further create tension and endanger peace and stability in the region.
On Monday, Malacañang announced that the Naval Base Camilo Osias in Sta. Ana, Cagayan; Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo, Cagayan; Camp Melchor dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; and Balabac Island in Palawan will be the new EDCA sites.
The Pentagon said that the US is not seeking permanent bases in the Philippines.“We’re not seeking permanent basing here, so you’re going to see an increase of rotational forces in the region, but this is more about supporting combined training, being able to respond to natural disasters, humanitarian disasters in the region but this is really about regional readiness,” said Sabrina Singh, deputy Pentagon press secretary.Romualdez said the new EDCA sites will boost Manila’s push for strategic defense capabilities.“The question we should ask China is why are you creating tension in our territory in the Ayungin shoal and many parts of our territory,” Romualdez said.The Philippine envoy said the new EDCA sites are part of the long standing PH-US military alliance.“We have been doing this as part of our MDT (Mutual Defense Treaty) which has been in place since 1951 and now they are questioning us with the kind of relationship that we have with the US,” he said.Romualdez said China should address issues over the harassment of Filipino fishermen and their continued illegal presence in Philippine territory.“What are you doing in our territorial waters, yan ang dapat nila sagutin? Bakit niyo hina-harrass ang aming fishermen — kanila yan eh, they have been fishing there for centuries tapos bigla na lang hindi pwede. Hindi naman tama iyon. That is the question that should be asked not why we are doing this with an ally the US,” Romualdez said.[Translation: Why are you harassing our fishermen, they were fishing there for centuries and suddenly they are not allowed to go there. That’s not right. That should be the question and not why we are doing this with an ally the US].At a press conference on Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said it was clear “the US has been increasing its military deployment in the region driven by a zero-sum mentality in pursuit of selfish interests.
