Minority solon hopes Balikatan, Edca include scenarios for specific emergencies

Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy. (Photo from her Facebook account)

MANILA, Philippines — While the country would not want to be involved in any conflict with other countries, a House minority lawmaker said that certain emergency scenarios should be considered in doing the Balikatan exercises and the implementation of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca).

In a statement on Friday, Bagong Henerasyon Rep. Bernadette Herrera said that the country should be prepared for flashpoint emergencies that would affect the country’s economy and the standing of Filipinos in other countries within the region.

“Mahalaga ang Edca, MDT [Mutual Defense Treaty], at Balikatan exercises sapagkat alalahanin nating ilan sa mga undersea high-capacity fiber optic cables natin for internet and telecoms ay diyan nakalatag sa seabed sa pagitan ng Taiwan at Northern Luzon. Magiging matindi ang tama sa ekonomiya at pang-araw-araw nating buhay kung madadamay sa anumang pag-atake ang mga undersea cables na iyan,” Herrera said.

(The Edca, Mutual Defense Treaty, and the Balikatan exercises are important because we must remember that some of our undersea high-capacity fiber optic cables for internet and telecoms are located between Taiwan at Northern Luzon. This would have a big impact on the economy and our daily lives if these undersea cables are affected in any attacks.)

“Our air traffic going to Japan and South Korea and connecting flights that stopover in Japan and South Korea would also be affected. Our international trade with Taiwan would also be disrupted,” she added.

The lawmaker added that while she wishes that the country does not get involved in any international hostilities, protecting the country is paramount especially since once of the most tense areas in the region — the Taiwan Strait — is geographically close to the country.

“Batanes is actually so close to Taiwan that Batanes residents are able to watch tv shows and listen to radio programs of Taiwan because the broadcast signals from there reach all the way to Batanes,” she said.

“We certainly do not wish to be dragged into any war or external armed hostilities, but we also do not want any of our Filipino migrant workers to get caught in the crossfire or become collateral damage. Neither do we want any Filipino fishermen and their vessels to become stranded out at sea while naval maneuvers and external armed hostilities happen around them,” Herrera explained.

While it would take some time for any conflict to directly affect the Philippines, people living in the nearby countries like those in China, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea might feel the impact earlier, which Herrera said also calls for preparation.

“While Philippine territory is some distance from possible nearby flashpoints, land-based Filipino migrant workers, as well as fishermen and Filipino seafarers, may not be safe in case hostilities break out around us while they are out there in international waters or another territory,” she said.

“These are situations I hope future Balikatan Exercises have scenarios for through close coordination and communication between the navies and air forces of participating countries,” she added.

Herrera said this after the Philippines and the United States — the latter being a strong ally of Taiwan — agreed to the opening of four more Edca sites.  While the location of the four latest Edca sites were withheld, the two countries already identified Zambales, Cagayan, Isabela, and Palawan as possible sites — areas near controversial and disputed territories.

The announcement came in light of the arrival of US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III at the Department of National Defense (DND) headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, for his meeting with Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr.

READ: US, PH agree to four new Edca sites 

Herrera said that while the best way to address potential conflict is through diplomacy, it is not bad to prepare for worst-case scenarios.

“The best way to address these concerns is through effective diplomacy with the United States, China, Japan, and South Korea, as well as through ASEAN. But we must also have provisions in the EDCA, MDT, and Balikatan Exercises for extreme contingencies short of war,” she said.

“Ensuring freedom of navigation and safe passage corridors by sea and by air should be somehow, someway be included in an updated MDT and updated EDCA.  I am suggesting these as inputs to future bilateral talks updating the MDT, EDCA, and Balikatan Exercises,” she added.

RELATED STORIES:

US VP Kamala Harris to affirm defense commitment to Philippines 

US eyes allocating $70 million for EDCA sites, arms in PH 

Military names 5 more Edca sites 

JPV