Published:
Mar 22, 2023 10:44 GMT
For its part, China urged the Asian country not to strengthen its military cooperation with the US, since, it says, the decision would be detrimental to its own security.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. confirmed on Wednesday that four places “scattered across the Philippines” will serve as additional military facilities for the US Army under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), collect The Manila Times.
“There are some [bases militares] in the north, others around Palawan, others further south,” Marcos was quoted as saying, claiming that the sites are for “defend” its eastern shore and the continental shelf on the eastern side of the island of Luzon, the closest area to Taiwan, located just 200 kilometers away.
The statement comes after the US announced last February that it would be able to access these new sites as part of the full implementation of the agreement. These facilities are added to the five already existing under the EDCA signed in 2014.
On the other hand, the issue has generated tension with Chinawhich on March 12 urged the Philippines to do not strengthen its military cooperation with the North American countrysince, according to him, the decision would be to the detriment of his own security and in favor of US geopolitical interests in the Indo-Pacific region.
In addition, it should be noted that Beijing and Manila have territorial disputes in the South China Sea. For his part, the Philippine leader indicated that they will make a formal announcement, but first they will formalize the issue with their US partners.
Previously, it had been reported that Manila was central to Washington’s plans to deter and respond to any eventual attack by Beijing against Taiwan.since of its five allies in the Indo-Pacific, including Australia, South Korea, Japan and Thailand, the Philippines is the closest nation to the island.
