China claimed that American military bases in the Philippines are an attempt to strategically use Taiwan to “contain China.”
According to the Chinese Embassy spokesperson, whose name was not disclosed, the four American military bases under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) are a threat to peace development, especially in its internal affairs with Taiwan.
“Of the four new EDCA sites opened by the Philippines to the United States, three are located in the northern part of Luzon, just ‘across the sea’ from Taiwan, and one of which is only 400 kilometers away from Taiwan,” the spokesperson said.
“It is obvious that the US is attempting to use EDCA sites to interfere in the Taiwan question at the expense of the peaceful development of the Philippines and the region,” they added.
China warned the US against “external interferences and secessionist activities” and said it will “reserve the option of taking all necessary measures” but “won’t renounce the use of force.”
“The Taiwan question is entirely China’s internal affairs, and how to solve it is a matter for the Chinese people on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait,” the spokesperson said.
“China is the last country in the world to wish for a conflict across the Strait, 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 the very small number of separatist elements and their secessionist activities,” they added.
China has imposed a ‘One China’ policy in the international community and expects all nations to abide by it.
The US has been vocal in its ‘’ironclad’ commitments with the Philippines, reaffirming its adherence to “open, inclusive, and rules based international order that is governed by international law and informed by the principles of equity and justice.”
Security strategist Chester Cabalza, president of the Manila-based International Development and Security Cooperation (IDSC) think tank, stated that this growing US-PH alliance has increased China’s apprehension, particularly regarding Washington’s potential actions to support Manila against Beijing’s ongoing aggression.
“China’s vexatious grey zone in the disputed waters is a direct result of the US strong presence and warm defense ties with the Philippines. It is part of Beijing’s disinformation campaign to use the ironclad alliance to justify their illegal actions and illegitimate claims in the WPS,” Cabalza told Manila Standard.
He underscored the significant correlation between the US’s strong military presence and defense ties with the Philippines and the growing aggression of China and its disinformation tactics, especially in the South China Sea and other disputed maritime areas.
“More than the additional EDCA sites in northern and western regions of the Philippines, Beijing is adamant to own by force the entirety of Manila’s maritime features,” Cabalza stated.
“Its bolder yet hostile expansionist ways in confronting the Philippines and other claimant-states in the South China Sea apparently shows how irresponsible China as big neighbor is in the stretched tight region,” he noted.
