Senate overseas relations committee chairperson Imee Marcos on Wednesday confronted officers on the reported institution of 4 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) websites in Northern Luzon close to the Taiwan Strait.
“Are we talking about the escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait as the number one issue?” Marcos requested at a Senate briefing on the brand new EDCA websites.
According to Marcos, two new EDCA websites shall be established in Cagayan, one in Isabela, and in Zambales.
“It clearly indicates that this is the first line in the Taiwan attacks that are projected. Is that correct?” Marcos requested Defense officer-in-charge Carlito Galvez Jr.
“I just need to understand why are you choosing all these sites in Northern Luzon when in fact if it were West Philippine Sea deterrence that were uppermost in our minds, the protection of our territorial sovereignty, surely it should be in the western sector not purely in the northern,” Marcos went on.
In response, Galvez mentioned the 4 websites are nonetheless in negotiation.
“We might change the locations depending on the agreement that we are having in the security sector,” he mentioned.
When requested to substantiate the 4 new EDCA websites in Northern Luzon, Galvez mentioned “it is still unidentified location.”
During the dialogue on the brand new EDCA websites, Galvez mentioned they only agreed on the numbers and never on the precise websites.
When they got here up with the variety of new EDCA websites, Galvez mentioned they should comply with some standards, corresponding to websites that may cater to Balikatan workouts.
But Marcos will not be happy with Galvez’s rationalization.
“Nag-shift na po ba tayo at hindi na yung territorial integrity kundi yung escalation ng tension sa Taiwan Straits ang ating tinutumbok nito?” Marcos requested.
Galvez mentioned he can’t categorically reply the query.
At the latter a part of the listening to, Marcos additionally famous that the Balikatan workouts “suddenly shifted” to Northern Luzon.
“Gentlemen, what is our fight with Taiwan? What is our fight with Taiwan? I don’t understand. So why are we doing all the military exercises in Northern Luzon– a stone’s throw or at least a boat ride away from Taiwan,” Marcos mentioned.
“Then clearly, the new expanded EDCA is addressing the escalation of tensions in the Taiwan Straits, not Philippine interest in the West Philippine Sea. We are therefore going to fight for another country, the United States? Is that correct, sir?” she went on.
Galvez mentioned they have a look at the totality of the nation’s full preparedness to collective protection and disasters contemplating that the Philippines is probably the most susceptible in local weather change.
He additional defined that the Balikatan workouts are being accomplished yearly and rotationally in several areas.
“The reason why we choose the northern part for Balikatan exercises because…our preparation for disaster is very significant considering that we have seen a lot of typhoons, a lot of flooding, a lot of earthquakes happening in the country,” he mentioned.
In the identical listening to, Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba reiterated his opposition to the potential creation of EDCA websites within the province.
Mamba mentioned the Armed Forces of the Philippines supplies an environment friendly catastrophe responses to areas in want.
“Please do not ram into our throats what is not acceptable to us because binobola-bola lang po tayo e. Hindi na po totoo ito,” Mamba mentioned.
“China never invaded us, never conquered us. Wala kaming problema sa kanila. Sa totoo lang they are very helpful. I never sought their help during disasters but China came in yung federation of Chinese Chamber nagpapadala ng rice.. During our disaster, they are our neighbors. Please, do not let us tell them that they are our enemies because of the United States of America. Let them have their own war but we can never be an enemy to our neighbor,” Mamba mentioned.—LDF, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
