Cagayan province may approve U.S. troops' use of 2 bases

Kyodo News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="An American soldier assists a Philippine marine during a chemical reconnaissance and surveillance exercise. Basilio H. Sepe, ABS-CBN News/File" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/02/02/20221007-us-military-exercise-bs-1.jpg"/><figcaption>An American soldier assists a Philippine marine during a chemical reconnaissance and surveillance exercise. <em>Basilio H. Sepe, ABS-CBN News/File</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - A province in the northern tip of the Philippines may allow U.S. troops to use two bases, build facilities and position its weapons there, in line with a defense agreement between Manila and Washington, a local governor said Thursday.</p><p>Manuel Mamba, governor of Cagayan, which is about 600 kilometers from Taiwan, a potential hotspot, told Kyodo News by phone that he opposes the presence of foreign troops and warned that hosting the U.S. forces can make the area a &quot;magnet for an attack in case a war erupts.&quot;</p><p>The two bases are among four additional sites the Philippines granted the United States access to in February under their 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.</p><p>While opposed to having foreign troops in his areas, Mamba said the decision is ultimately up to the president.</p><p>Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Wednesday that the four additional sites had been selected, and the exact locations will be announced soon. He mentioned one is in Palawan, a western Philippine island facing the South China Sea.</p><p>This raises to nine the total number of Philippine military bases the United States may use under the agreement.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/22/23/marcos-philippines-to-announce-new-edca-sites-soon">Marcos: Philippines to soon announce new sites for US military</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/13/23/senators-hit-china-following-edca-remark">Senators hit China following EDCA remark</a></li></ul><p>China, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Brunei have overlapping claims in the South China Sea, where Beijing has maintained a military presence.</p><p>Mamba said he was &quot;requested&quot; by the Philippine government not to reveal the exact locations in Cagayan.</p><p>Aside from getting caught in a potential crossfire, Mamba fears Cagayan, a largely agricultural province, will lose its trade with China and Taiwan. &quot;I hope that I am wrong. Because if I am right, I&#x27;m so afraid of what will happen to my people,&quot; he said.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sJMhR-09X0U?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

While opposed to having foreign troops in his areas, Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba said the decision is ultimately up to the president.

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Cagayan province may approve U.S. troops' use of 2 bases

Cagayan province may approve U.S. troops' use of 2 bases

Kyodo News

Published Mar 24, 2023 04:09 AM PHT

Read More:

Cagayan province

Cagayan

Taiwan

U.S. military

Philippine bases

Philippines military bases

China

Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement

Ferdinand Marcos Jr

South China Sea

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