Marcos says new military bases with US to be 'scattered' around the
Philippines
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[March 22, 2023]
By Neil Jerome Morales
MANILA (Reuters) - President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Wednesday that
four new military bases under a defense agreement with the U.S. would be
located in various parts of the Philippines, including in a province
facing the South China Sea.
Last month, Marcos granted the U.S. access to four sites, on top of five
existing locations under the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement
(EDCA), which comes amid China's growing assertiveness in the South
China Sea and towards Taiwan.
"There are four extra sites scattered around the Philippines - there are
some in the north, there are some around Palawan, there are some further
south," Marcos told reporters at the sidelines of the Philippine army's
founding anniversary.
The EDCA allows U.S. access to Philippine bases for joint training,
pre-positioning of equipment and building of facilities such as runways,
fuel storage and military housing, but it is not a permanent presence.
The Philippines and the U.S. would announce the locations of the bases
soon, Marcos said, adding the sites would boost the country's ability to
defend the "eastern side" of its largest island, Luzon. Luzon is the
closest main Philippine island to self-ruled Taiwan that China claims as
its own.
China's foreign ministry on Wednesday reiterated its stance that the
U.S. side was increasing tensions by strengthening its military
deployments in the region, adding countries should be "vigilant" and
avoid being used by the U.S..
"We generally believe that defence cooperation between countries should
be conducive to regional peace and stability, and should not be aimed at
third parties or harm the interests of third parties," spokesperson Wang
Wenbin told reporters at a regular news briefing.
A former Philippine military chief has publicly said the U.S. had asked
for access to bases in Isabela, Zambales and Cagayan, all on the island
of Luzon, facing north towards Taiwan, and on Palawan in the southwest,
near the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.
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Philippines President Ferdinand "Bongbong"
Marcos Jr. walks past troopers on the 126th founding anniversary of
the Philippine Army at Fort Bonifacio, in Taguig, Philippines March
22, 2023. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez
Some leaders of local governments at the potential EDCA sites have
opposed Marcos' decision, worried they would be dragged into a
conflict if one arose between the U.S. and China over Taiwan.
But Marcos said his government has discussed with them the
importance of the expanded U.S. access and "why it will actually be
good for their provinces".
Washington has committed $80 million worth of infrastructure
investments at the five existing sites - the Antonio Bautista Air
Base in Palawan, Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva
Ecija, Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu and Lumbia Air Base in
Mindanao.
Speaking before Philippine troops, Marcos told them to be vigilant
as the external threat to security was becoming more "complex" and
"unpredictable".
"Be vigilant against elements that will undermine our hard earned
peace, our hard earned stability, continue to improve relations with
your counterparts overseas," Marcos said.
Without giving specifics, Marcos said he was aware of an "emerging
threat" to his country's territory, which he said would require
"adjustments in our strategy".
"The external security environment is becoming more complex. It is
becoming more unpredictable," Marcos said.
(Writing by Karen Lema; Editing by Ed Davies and Himani Sarkar)
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