UNITED States Ambassador Philip Goldberg on Thursday reiterated that the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement is not directly related to the country’s dispute with China over the West Philippine Sea but is more about helping the Philippines as a close ally.
“The Edca should be seen in terms of the mutual security relationship between the US and the Philippines, wherein the Armed Forces of the Philippines can be modernized and will be able to conduct joint operations with their American counterparts as treaty allies,” Goldberg said in a TV interview.
“People should understand that that’s the basis of our relationship, and that this is not aimed at China or any other claimants in the South China Sea. That should be resolved in a diplomatic and legal fashion,” Goldberg said in an interview.
The US envoy made the remark a day after US Secretary of State John Kerry that the United States did not want a confrontation in the South China Sea after an international tribunal issued a decision in favor of the Philippines.
Kerry said the US wanted China and the Philippines to engage in talks and agree on confidence-building measures that will prevent confrontation.
At the same time, Goldberg said the Edca can also serve as a platform for U.S. military assets to extend humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in Southeast Asia.
Goldberg the US has already identified five locations for U.S. military facilities in the Philippines under the security agreement and a group of American lawmakers visited the country last week to look at some of the sites.
Aside from military financing, Goldberg said they also give support on law enforcement by holding prosecutorial training and training for counter-narcotics, as well as counter-terrorism.