The Department of National Defense (DND) stood pat that the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the Philippines and the United States doesn’t violate the nation’s sovereignty and isn’t aimed towards any international nation.
“There is no ‘gross violation of our national sovereignty’ as claimed by certain quarters,” DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong mentioned in an announcement Friday.
The Defense official additionally harassed that the joint actions between the Philippines and the US are “intended to enhance the partnership” of the 2 nations.
“These are not directed against any particular country but to modernize our alliance with the US and maintain a peaceful, free and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” he mentioned.
On Thursday, China talked about a priority “shared by many in the Philippines” as regards the nation getting drawn right into a “potential conflict” within the Taiwan Strait after the designation of recent EDCA websites in Luzon.
“The comments on the locations of the new military bases also speak to the concern shared by many insightful people in the Philippines, who worry that this may draw their country into the whirlpool of a potential conflict in the Taiwan Strait,” Mao Ning, the spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, mentioned when requested to touch upon DND officer in cost Carlito Galvez who mentioned the brand new EDCA websites have been for the protection of the Philippines and the area.
In a separate assertion on Friday, Gabriela party-list Representative Arlene Brosas mentioned the operation of 4 further Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) websites within the nation will price the Filipino taxpayers’ cash.
Brosas mentioned that US forces and their protection contractors may have “unimpeded access” to the places and won’t pay any rental prices to the Philippine authorities.
“We are literally paying for what is essentially a gross violation of our national sovereignty, in line with the ruling regime’s puppetry to US interests in the region,” she mentioned.
The Defense spokesperson, nevertheless, reiterated that “access to and use of EDCA Agreed Locations by US personnel is by invitation of the Philippines, and is by no means unhampered or unimpeded.”
“The Philippines retains sovereignty and responsibility over EDCA Agreed Locations,” he mentioned.
Andolong additionally mentioned the US will fund the development and growth of the EDCA websites, which is able to spur jobs and increase native economies.
“We call on the public to approach and understand the issue beyond the myopic perception that strengthening the military’s capabilities means inviting war or conflict,” he mentioned.
“Time and again, the AFP’s assets and facilities have been utilized to respond to various threats to the security and safety of the Filipino people. Allocating resources for the development of the country’s defense capabilities and the enhancement of the skills of its troops is a part of the functions of a state such as the Philippines,” he added.
He additionally clarified that the DND doesn’t buy previous gear for its troops and that it sources supplies from nations aside from the US.
“We ensure the people that the DND and AFP are exercising judicious use of the funds allocated for our defense posture, to allow our military to more effectively perform its mandate to the people,” he mentioned.—LDF, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
