MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday said China has nothing to worry about in the expansion of American troops’ access to bases in the Philippines if they don’t have plans to attack.
Marcos said the expansion of sites that US troops would have access to under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) is only to assist the Philippines, especially in disaster relief.
He made the statement after China warned the expansion of Edca sites is “endangering regional peace and stability.“
READ: China stages drills off Taiwan, warns PH anew on Edca
“Ngayon, ang reaction ng China ay hindi naman siguro katakataka dahil nag-aalala sila. Pero hindi naman tayo papayag na Pilipinas, hindi tayo papayag na gamitin ang mga bases natin para sa kahit anong offensive na aksyon,” he said in a chance interview in Bataan.
(Now, the reaction of China is not surprising because they have concerns. But we won’t allow anyone to use our bases to launch any offensive attack.)
“Kaya’t kung wala namang sumusugod sa atin, hindi na sila kailangang mag-alala dahil hindi naman sila natin lalabanan,” Marcos added.
(So if no one attacks us, they don’t need to worry because we won’t fight them.)
The President said the Philippines is only strengthening its defense capability with the expansion of the Edca deal.
Malacañang earlier identified four new locations as additional Edca sites, which are: Camilo Osias Naval Base in Sta. Ana town and Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo town, both in Cagayan province; Camp Melchor dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela province; and Balabac, the southernmost island in Palawan province.
READ: Palace names four more Edca sites