The Department of National Defense on Saturday defended the country’s Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with the United States, just as it expressed concern on the remarks of Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian against the Filipino workers in Taiwan.
Defense spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said the country is not “meddling in the internal affairs of China concerning Taiwan,” and even described this as the ambassador’s “illusion.” It was also not directed against any country, he added.
The Chinese official’s statement is also a “subtle threat” to the country, the DND spokesman said, by “tragically leveraging on the plight of our hardworking and peace-loving OFWs” there.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had already said the Philippines will not allow its military bases to be used for any offensive attacks.
A political analyst and a retired general earlier Saturday described the Chinese official’s statements as a “veiled threat.”
Ret. Gen. Edilberto Adan said it was also “very disturbing” and a form of “coercion.”
Political analyst Renato Cruz de Castro said he does not “see anyconnection to how the OFWs in Taiwan would be affected by the EDCA sites.”
De Castro onded that a threat that OFWs in Taiwan faces is when China launches a major military offensive in the island. This is when the additional military bases could be used for evacuation.
“I hope he is not referring to that, because that is already an indication of something that China might do probably in the next 4 years,” he said.
“That’s why we have the EDCA sites… because they will be used for evacuation in case it will happen. That’s one of the reasons why we prepared those EDCA sites, air bases. That can be used in massive evacuation.”
“The Philippines observes the One China Policy and maintains the ASEAN principle of non-interference in approaching regional issues,” Andolong said in a statement.
“Amid the tensions in the Cross Straits, however, the department deems it prudent to prepare for any contingencies to ensure the safety of Filipinos overseas, especially those based in Taiwan,” he added.
Huang earlier said Beijing “reserves the option of taking all necessary measures” should things escalate in the Taiwan Strait, just as it advised Manila to oppose “Taiwan independence” if it really cares about the 150,000 overseas Filipino workers there.
Andolong, however, did not provide in the statement any details on the possible preparation for contingencies for OFWs in Taiwan.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines earlier this week though said the EDCA bases could be used by Manila and Washington for “emergency situations.”
Andolong reiterated the EDCA’s purpose: to improve the country’s defense capacities. He said the country would continue pursuing peace and mutual respect on top of this.
“[It] is in line with our efforts to modernize our alliance and enable collective defense and peace, promote our national interest, protect our national sovereignty, ensure the livelihood and welfare of our fisherfolk and communities, and enhance our capability to respond to emergencies and disasters, as well as provide humanitarian assistance,” he said.
US Embassy in the Philippines Press Attaché Kanishka Gangopadhyay, meanwhile, said they have “no specific response” to Huang’s statement.
Gangopadhyay said the EDCA is “not about any other third country” as this is anchored on the alliance between Manila and Washington.
“EDCA sites will support combined training exercises and interoperability between US and Philippine forces to ensure that we’re even better prepared for future crises,” he said.
