EDCA projects set for inspection

From Malaya Business Insight (Sep 13, 2023):  EDCA projects set for inspection (By Victor Reyes)

THE commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command is due to visit today three of the nine Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites where Americans are allowed to put up facilities for prepositioning of equipment.

Adm. John Aquilino will visit the sites a day before a Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board meeting at the Armed Forces headquarters at Camp Aguinaldo which he and Armed Forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr will preside.

Aquilino will be accompanied by Brawner and US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson during his visit at the EDCA sites — Lal-lo airport and Naval Base Camilo Osias, both in Cagayan province, and Basa Air Base in Pampanga.

Lal-lo Airport and Naval Base Camilo Osias were among the four additional EDCA sites announced by Malacañang last April. The two others are Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Isabela, and Balabac Island in Palawan.

EDCA-related constructions at these new EDCA sites have yet to start, said Armed Forces public affairs chief Lt. Col. Enrico Gil Ileto.

Basa Air Base was part of the five EDCA sites approved during the Aquino administration. The Americans have been implementing projects at the air base and at the four other sites — Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro City, and Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu.

“The leaders, accompanied by high-ranking AFP and US Armed Forces officers, will conduct an extensive tour of the completed EDCA projects at Basa Air Base,” said Ileto.

Ileto said the tour of the EDCA sites will allow the officials the opportunity to “gain knowledge of the bases’ potential for the development of key facilities to support humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations and modernization priorities of the AFP.”

Ileto said the visit to the EDCA sites and the MDB-SEB meeting tomorrow at Camp Aguinaldo underscore the continuing partnership of the two armed forces “in enhancing national defense capabilities, as well as the shared commitment to regional security and disaster response efforts.”

“General Brawner and Admiral Aquilino’s visit signifies the commitment of both AFP and US Armed Forces to further strengthen its cooperation, ensuring that both militaries are prepared and well-equipped to respond to evolving security challenges and humanitarian crises,” said Ileto.

“The AFP looks forward to sharing insights from this visit and the MDB-SEB meeting, which together contribute to the enduring partnership between the two nations,” added Ileto.

Signed in 2014, EDCA allows the Americans to pursue at the agreed sites various activities, including training; transit; support and related activities; refueling of aircraft; bunkering of vessels; temporary maintenance of vehicles, vessels, and aircraft; temporary accommodation of personnel; communications; prepositioning of equipment, supplies, and materiel; deploying of forces and materiel.

The agreement also permits the US to preposition and store defense equipment, supplies and materiel, including, but not limited to, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief equipment, supplies and materiel.

China has opposed the expansion of the EDCA sites, particularly those in Cagayan which is near Taiwan which China considers as its province. It accused the US of interfering in the situation between China and Taiwan.

CHINESE GADGETS

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri yesterday said he wants the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification, and Reconciliation to review policies on the use of laptops and electronic gadgets donated by China to agencies in the country to determine if they will not compromise national security.

He said the committee should look into the laptops and computer hardware and software donated by China which are being used by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard, Department of Information and Communications Technology, and the Department of Foreign Affairs, among other agencies.

“China is known to donate laptops, and other computer systems. I am going to ask the chairman to make a review with the different agencies… As far as I am concerned, we are already hacked. I am sure they’re tapping into information we are giving out,” Zubiri said in mixed Filipino and English the during the committee hearing.

Zubiri and other senators recently met with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese who told them that Australia has replaced gadgets donated by China because of possible implications on national security.

Also during the hearing, Zubiri said the Senate will increase “by the billions of pesos” the proposed budgets for the Armed Forces and the Philippine Coast Guard for them to be more effective in patrolling the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Zubiri said the increase will go to the AFP’s and PCG’s confidential funds and their regular budgets for line items. He did not disclose the amount and other details said part of the budget increase will be “how we can increase the cybersecurity strategy of our armed forces” and the coast guard.

US TO BLAME?

Sen. Robin Padilla said the continuing escalation of tension in the WPS could be due to the deployment of US reconnaissance plane which recently monitored the resupply mission in the WPS.

He said the situation could worsen if China also deploys a reconnaissance plane.

“Papano kung nagpalipad ang dayuhan ng eroplano nila, ano ang reaction natin? Ano ang magiging reaction natin kung sila nagpalipad, nagpaliparan, tayo maiipit sa gitna (What will happen if a foreigner deploys its plane, what will be our reaction? What will be our reaction if they deploy their airplane, and then the other one deploys, and we will be caught in between them),” Padilla said.

Professor Jay Batongbacal said the US has nothing to do with the rising tension between the Philippines and China in the WPS since the “escalation” of tension was started by China when it built military structures in the Spratly group of islands – in Mischief Reef, Scarborough Shoal, and Fiery Cross Reef – which are inside the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone.

He said the situation worsened when China stationed two reconnaissance planes in Fiery Cross Reef, and two fast attack missile boats in Mischief Reef, while its People’s Liberation Army ships have been anchored in each of the three military bases in Spratlys.

He said the China’s aggression started in 2014 when it blocked the resupply mission to troops stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre at the Ayungin Shoal.

Padilla insisted the Philippines does not need the help of the Americans who seem to just use the country in its conflict with China.

Batongbacal disagreed, and said the presence of the Americans can be of big help to the Philippines in the problems in the WPS since the US is a “treaty ally.”

He said China is getting more aggressive in the WPS as it is taking advantage of the country’s weak external self-defense capability.

Sen. Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, the committee chairman, said the Philippines should accept all the help being offered by allies because “we are not in the position not to accept them” amid the problems in the WPS. – With Raymond Africa

https://malaya.com.ph/news_news/edca-projects-set-for-inspection/