Metro Manila, Philippines — China has advised the Philippines to oppose “Taiwan independence” amid ongoing regional tensions as it issued anew a warning against the United States’ expanded military access in the country.
Speaking at a forum on Friday, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian claimed the US “intends to take advantage” of the new sites under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) — a deal between Manila and Washington — to supposedly “interfere” in the situation in the Taiwan Strait.
“The Philippines is advised to unequivocally oppose ‘Taiwan independence’ rather than stoking the fire by offering the US access to the military bases near the Taiwan Strait if you care genuinely about the 150,000 OFWs [overseas Filipino workers in Taiwan],” Huang said in his speech.
“Obviously, the US intends to take advantage of the new EDCA sites to interfere in the situation across the Taiwan Strait to serve its geopolitical goals, and advance its anti-China agenda at the expense of peace and development of the Philippines and the region at large,” he added.
Last week, China launched military drills around Taiwan after the latter’s president met with a top US official in California.
The island nation — which Beijing sees as its own territory — denounced the move.
Meanwhile, Huang also slammed statements lamenting the safety of OFWs in Taiwan following the military exercises.
“China is the last country that wishes to see conflict over the strait because people on both sides are Chinese,” the envoy said.
“But we will not renounce the use of force, and we reserve the option of taking all necessary measures. This is to guard against external interference and all separatist activities.”
In response, the US Embassy maintained that the EDCA sites are only for enhancing the US-Philippine alliance and “not about any other third country.”
“EDCA sites will support combined training exercises and interoperability between US and Philippine forces to ensure that we’re even better prepared for future crises,” the embassy told reporters.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier said the bases that will host the American troops will not be staging grounds for offensive operations.
The four new EDCA sites in the Philippines will be stationed in Santa Ana and Lal-lo towns in Cagayan, Gamu town in Isabela, and on Balabac Island in Palawan.
