China: EDCA to escalate tensions, undermine stability in Asia-Pacific

From GMA News (Jan 14): China: EDCA to escalate tensions, undermine stability in Asia-Pacific

China has criticized the Supreme Court's decision declaring the defense pact between the Philippines and the United States as constitutional, claiming the deal will only "escalate tensions and undermine peace and stability in the (Asia-Pacific) region."

"It seems very peculiar that the Philippines, which stopped hosting two of the largest overseas US military bases in the early 1990s, invited the US troops home again, despite strong domestic criticism, at a time when the situation in the South China Sea has stabilized," a commentary on the official Xinhua News Agency site said Wednesday afternoon.

"It is easy to deduce that Manila, which has long been involved in a dispute with Beijing over claims on some South China Sea islands, appears to be now turning to Uncle Sam to back its ambition to counter China," it added.

Criticizing the United States, the commentary claimed that an "increased military presence in the region will only aggravate regional tensions and could push the situation to the brink of war."

"The US military intervention in the Asia-Pacific will only escalate tensions in the region, of which the Philippines is an indispensable part. Manila has to bear the negative consequences of its stupid move in the future," Xinhua's commentary said.

On Tuesday, the high court upheld the constitutionality of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between the Philippines and the United States.

Under the EDCA, the US will be allowed to build structures; store and pre-position weapons, defense supplies and materiel; station troops, civilian personnel and defense contractors; and transit and station vehicles, vessels, and aircraft for a period of 10 years.

The Supreme Court decision came amid an ongoing dispute between the Philippines and China due to overlapping claims in the South China Sea. Following the decision, a military spokesman said Wednesday that the Philippines has offered the US eight bases where it can build facilities to store equipment and supplies under the new security deal.

"The list has been prepared many months ago when we had earlier discussions," a Reuters report quoted Col. Restituto Padilla as telling reporters, saying five military airfields, two naval bases and a jungle training camp were offered to the United States.

"These are still subject for approval and we're going to hold final discussions about these areas," Padilla added.

Three of these bases are on the main island of Luzon in the northern Philippines, including Clark airfield, a former US air force base, and two are on the western island of Palawan, near the South China Sea.

The Americans are also seeking access to three civilian seaports and airfields on Luzon, including Subic Bay, a former US Navy base, a senior defense official told Reuters.

Last year, more than 100 US Navy ships docked in Subic and two advanced nuclear-powered stealth submarines made visits in the first two weeks of this year.

"Subic is important to the Americans because it is one of the few areas in the country where they can actually dock safely," said a defense official, who declined to be named because he is not authorized to speak to the press.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/551177/news/nation/china-edca-to-escalate-tensions-undermine-stability-in-asia-pacific