US envoy: Sea disputes not covered by EDCA

From GMA News (Jan 29): US envoy: Sea disputes not covered by EDCA

US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg on Friday clarified that the disputes in the South China Sea are not covered by the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). "EDCA isn't directly related to the South China Sea issues.

It's about the United States helping its ally, the Philippines, as it goes about building a minimum credible defense," Goldberg said in an interview on GMA's News To Go on Friday.

Goldberg added: "It's not aimed at any country or the disagreements in the South China Sea." In case of a "shooting war" due to the sea disputes, the envoy said that the US will be ready to abide by the Mutual Defense Treaty that it signed with the Philippines in 1951.

"The Philippines is a treaty ally of the United States. President Obama, when he was here, said that the treaty is ironclad. We take seriously our responsibilities, our obligations under the Mutual Defense Treaty," Goldberg said.

He, however, said that the US is not anticipating a "shooting war" due to the sea disputes.

"That is a hypothetical situation. You have to know what the circumstances are," he said.

During the interview, Goldberg said that the US is opposed to the visit of outgoing Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou to Itu Aba, an island in the disputed waters.

He said that the visit is not a "positive development." "We don't see the utility of these kinds of actions, which are unilateral and which tend to inflame the situation rather than calm it," he said.

Goldberg also reiterated the US' stand against China's construction activities in the South China Sea.

Meanwhile, Goldberg clarified that "no new bases" will be built by the US under EDCA.

He said that US facilities will be constructed on "co-located" facilities. He explained that the presence of US facilities within Philippine armed forces camps will be built only in agreed locations.

He also clarified that the construction of the US facilities will "be done in a way that is agreed upon by both sides."

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/553189/news/nation/us-envoy-sea-disputes-not-covered-by-edca