Inevitable for China to look at PH-US military cooperation 'provocatively' - expert

ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="ABS-CBN News" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/04/11/20230411-balikatan-exercise-opening-jc0775-s.jpg"/><figcaption>Philippine Exercise Director Major Gen. Marvin L Licudine and US Exercise Director Representative Major General Eric Austin of the US Marine Corps pose for photos during the opening ceremonies of the RP-US Balikatan Exercises at the Tejeros Hall, AFP Commissioned Officers Club, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City on April 11, 2023. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — The expansion of Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between the Philippines and US will be seen by China as a provocation, an expert said Wednesday.</p><p>But geopolitical analyst Don Mclain Gill added that should not stop Manila from strengthening its alliance with traditional partner Washington.</p><p>&quot;It is thus inevitable for China to look at it provocatively given of course the involvement of the US and the intensifying US-China power competition,&quot; he told ANC&#x27;s &quot;Headstart&quot;.</p><p>&quot;We have to do this quite carefully of course because at a time now when the geopolitical situation is quite tumultuous, wrong signals can be seen as a provocation.</p><p>&quot;So, we have to make sure to be as open as proactive as possible and not to fall deeper in the US-China power competition while securing our own interest,&quot; he added.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/03/23/philippines-names-4-sites-for-us-military-use">Philippines names 4 sites for US military use</a></li></ul><p>As for the security situation in Taiwan, Gil said it would have a direct impact on the Philippines should tensions escalate.</p><p>&quot;The expansion of EDCA must also be understood in this light, while it is a significant component of Philippine deterrence, it also provides the US support for its interest in the case of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;With or without the extension, the security of Taiwan for example is undeniably linked to ours... We&#x27;ll be involved not only because of the alliance but because of the proximity.&quot;</p><p>The Philippines and US on Tuesday also launched its largest-ever joint military drill in the face of China&#x27;s growing assertiveness in the region.</p><p>About 12,200 American, 5,400 Filipino and just over 100 Australian soldiers will participate in the 2 weeks of Balikatan exercises, or &quot;shoulder to shoulder&quot; in Filipino, which for the first time will include a live-fire drill in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost entirely.</p><p>The drills follow Monday&#x27;s conclusion of a 3-day Chinese military exercise that simulated targeted strikes and a blockade of self-ruled, democratic Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/11/23/philippines-us-kick-off-largest-ever-joint-military-drills">Philippines, US kick off largest-ever joint military drills</a></li></ul><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2579672" width="100%"></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><div><strong>— With a report from Agence France-Presse </strong></div>

The expansion of EDCA between the Philippines and US will be seen by China as a provocation, an expert said Wednesday.

Inevitable for China to look at PH-US military cooperation 'provocatively' - expert | ABS-CBN

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Inevitable for China to look at PH-US military cooperation 'provocatively' - expert

Inevitable for China to look at PH-US military cooperation 'provocatively' - expert

ABS-CBN News

Published Apr 12, 2023 03:21 PM PHT

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