There are not any discussions with the United States as regards extra Philippine navy services which can be accessed by US forces underneath the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro mentioned on Thursday.
Asked in a news briefing if there was a dialogue with US officers on growing the variety of EDCA, Teodoro mentioned, “No, there was not a discussion. No specific discussions, and… there is nothing on my table to increase the number of… EDCA facilities on Philippine bases.”
The Philippines and the US in February agreed to designate 4 new websites in strategic areas of the nation with the purpose of accelerating the complete implementation of the EDCA.
These can be established in Naval Base Camilo Osias in Sta Ana, Cagayan; Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo, Cagayan; Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; and Balabac Island in Palawan.
Before this, there are 5 present EDCA websites: Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu, and Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro City.
“You can’t bite more than what you can chew. That’s what I was trying to state earlier. We got to make things work first before expanding, a lot of conglomerates have fallen because of too quick an expansion without being able to absorb the capability to sustain,” Teodoro mentioned.
Teodoro in early July spoke on the cellphone with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
Austin in the course of the name raised concern over the current alleged harassment of Philippine vessels by Chinese vessels in Ayungin Shoal.
“Secretary Austin noted with concern the PRC’s (People’s Republic of China) recent coercive and risky operational behavior directed against Philippine vessels operating safely and lawfully in the South China Sea, including around Second Thomas Shoal,” Pentagon’s readout mentioned.
US Ambassador MaryKay Clarkson additionally met Teodoro on Friday.
Meanwhile, Teodoro was requested in the course of the briefing if the current assembly of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping is a trigger for concern for the Philippines contemplating the actions of China within the South China Sea.
“Kailangan muna malaman natin kung anong pinag-usapan para mahusgahan natin kung cause of concern o hindi,” Teodoro mentioned.
(We must know first what was mentioned so we are able to decide if this can be a reason behind concern.)
“Pero inaasahan natin dating presidente ng Pilipinas, Presidente Duterte, inaasahan din natin na ang interes ng Pilipinas ay taglay niya,” he added.
(But, we predict that former President Duterte has the curiosity of the Philippines.)
Asked if the DND will coordinate with Duterte on the matter, Teodoro mentioned it’s not the job of the DND to coordinate with Duterte as a result of the division focuses on credible protection posture and Duterte is already a non-public citizen.
On Monday, Reuters reported that Xi requested Duterte to proceed to advertise cooperation between the 2 international locations.
“I hope you will continue to play an important role in the friendly cooperation (between China and the Philippines),” state media cited Xi as saying throughout a gathering on the Diaoyutai state guest-house in Beijing.
“During your tenure as president of the Philippines, you had resolutely made the strategic choice to improve relations with China in an attitude of being responsible to the people and to history,” Xi instructed Duterte.
On Tuesday, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos mentioned he was conscious of Duterte’s journey to China and welcomed any new line of communication with the Asian energy amid points within the South China Sea.
Marcos added that he was sure Duterte will inform the Philippine authorities the small print of his dialog with Chinese President Xi Jinping and the way it may have an effect on the nation.
He mentioned he welcomed any new line of communication with China. —NB, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
