Considering the locations of the four additional Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement sites in the Philippines, which US forces will have access to, China said the “intention behind those sites is more than obvious.”
“Facts speak louder than words. Judging from the locations of the new military bases, the intention behind those sites is more than obvious,” he said.
“The US and the Philippines have just added a footnote to their intention by stressing in the joint statement that they will ‘support swift operationalization of the four new sites’. It seems there is no need for China to provide any additional analysis or interpretation of that. So indeed there is nothing to be surprised about when it comes to China’s response,” he added.
The Presidential Communications Office said the new locations — Camilo Osias Naval Base in Sta. Ana town and Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo town, both in Cagayan province; Camp Melchor dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela province; and Balabac, the southernmost island in Palawan province.
The four sites had been assessed by the Philippine military and deemed “suitable and mutually beneficial”, the PCO said.
The US Department of Defense later confirmed that the locations announced were the four new EDCA sites.
Of the four additional EDCA sites, three are situated in the northern part of the country, with the naval base at Cagayan’s Santa Ana being about 400 kilometers (250 miles) from Taiwan.
China considers Taiwan, an ally of the US, as part of its territory, to be retaken one day — by force, if necessary.