Implications of US-China conflict to PH unavoidable –Amb. Romualdez

Complications arising from the possible China-US conflict to the Philippines, and even to the whole ASEAN region cannot be avoided, Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez said on Sunday (Manila time).

Romualdez cited the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which resulted in successive oil price hikes affecting a huge part of the world economy.

“‘Yung kanilang alitan sa Amerika tungkol diyan sa Taiwan, maski na sabihin natin na hindi tayo kasali diyan, kung may mangyari diyan, dawit tayong lahat, maski ang entire ASEAN region,” the envoy said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

[Implications to the Philippines of the China-US dispute over Taiwan is unavoidable if something happens, even if we say we are not directly involved, and it will also affect the entire ASEAN region.]

“Hindi natin pwedeng iwasan na madadamay tayong lahat. 'Yan ang usapan namin dito sa mga kaibigan natin sa ASEAN. Alam nila na importante na walang serious conflict that will happen between China and the United States,” he added.

(We can't avoid getting dragged into it somehow. That's what we are discussing with our friends in the ASEAN. They know the importance of the Sino-US tension not erupting into serious conflict.)

For the Philippines, Romualdez said the country is only doing its part to strengthen its defense and at the same time, deter the possible conflict in the area.

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian earlier said that if the Philippines cared for around 200,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in Taiwan, it should oppose Taiwan independence rather than giving the US access to its military facilities near the Taiwan strait.

Signed in 2014, the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the Philippines and US grants American troops access to designated Philippine military facilities and allows them to build facilities and preposition equipment, aircraft, and vessels. Permanent basing, however, is prohibited.

The five existing EDCA locations includes: Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu, and Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro City.

Three of the four newly added EDCA sites are in the northern portion of Luzon, closer to Taiwan. These are the Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Isabela, the Lal-lo Airport in Cagayan, and the Camilo Osias Naval Base, also in Cagayan.

The fourth new EDCA site has been stationed on Balabac Island in Palawan, near the disputed South China Sea. —LBG, GMA Integrated News