EDCA sites with US only for defense purposes, DND chief Teodoro reiterates

Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Thursday reiterated that the EDCA sites with the United States will be used only for the defense efforts of the Philippines.

“Talagang sinabi na ng Pangulo, paulit-ulit. Ako na ang nagsabi nang paulit-ulit na ito ay pagdepensa talaga ng ating bansa dahil ang Pilipinas na matatag ay benepisyo sa buong mundo,” he told GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita.

[The President already said this many times. I already said this again and again that these are really for the defense of our country because a strong Philippines is a benefit for the world.]

Teodoro pointed out  that many countries would make profit in the Philippines when it has freedom and a strong economy, which cannot be achieved without good defense capabilities.

The DND chief also called for the trust of other countries that the Philippines would not meddle with their affairs as he discouraged them from accusing the country as just a tool for the agenda of other nations.

“Sa iba naman na bansa ay dapat bigyan din ng tiwala ang salita natin na hindi tayo nakikialam at huwag naman sana sabihin na tayo ay [gagamitin] ng ibang mga bansa dahil ito ay nakakainsulto sa talino at karangalan ng Pilipino,” he said.

(Other countries should show trust in our words that we are not interfering and  they should stop saying that we are a tool for other nations because that is insulting to the intelligence and honor of Filipinos.)

Signed by the Philippines and the US in 2014, EDCA — or the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement — grants American troops access to designated Philippine military facilities, allows them to build facilities, and pre-position equipment, aircraft, and vessels.

The agreement initially covers five sites but was expanded early this year to include four others.

In April, China mentioned a concern “shared by many in the Philippines” as regards the country getting drawn into a “potential conflict” in the Taiwan Strait after the designation of new EDCA sites in Luzon.

Mao Ning, the spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, made the remark when she was asked in a news conference to comment on then-Defense Department officer in charge Carlito Galvez who said the new EDCA sites were for the defense of the Philippines and the region.

Professor Hu Bo of the SCS Strategic Situation Probing Initiative said the designation of new EDCA sites is seen as a provocation to China.

According to him, the new sites “definitely will be used against China’s operations around Taiwan.”

“The Philippines may be passive but involved in the Taiwan issue... That is a big thing for China,” Hu said. — Joviland Rita/RSJ, GMA Integrated News