US Embassy in Manila (FILE PHOTO)
MANILA, Philippines — The United States Embassy in the Philippines on Saturday reiterated that the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) between Manila and Washington D.C. is not about any other third country.
The statement followed Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian’s pronouncement that the country was “stoking the fire by offering the US access to military bases near the Taiwan Strait.”
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The US Embassy however, insisted that this was “no specific response to Ambassador Huang’s comments.”
“Edca is a key component [of] the U.S. – Philippine alliance, and is not about any other third country,” said the US Embassy in a statement.
The Embassy reiterated that these are exercises to prepare for possible crisis situations.
“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,” it said.
Fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), however, denounced the exercises anew on Saturday, saying that the country risks flaming the tensions with China.
“We reaffirm that the US military actions in the Philippines are warmongering and provocative that could pose serious implications to our national sovereignty and security,” said Pamalakaya.
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers party-list, likewise previously opposed the Edca, saying that it was as if the Philippines’ previous colonizers had never left.