Filipino and American troops recently trained at two sites in Cagayan under the Edca as part of the largest ever Balikatan joint military exercises. | FMangosingINQ /PDI
The first five military bases for use under Edca are—Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija province; Basa Air Base in Pampanga province; Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan province; Benito Ebuen Air Base in Mactan, Cebu and Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro City.
Out of the four new Edca sites, three are facing Taiwan—two in Cagayan and one in Isabela—while one in Palawan is near the Chinese outposts in the West Philippine Sea. The new locations have raised concerns from China, warning that Washington was “endangering regional peace” and Manila was “stoking the fire” of regional tensions with the new deal. China’s increasing assertiveness over the South China Sea and Taiwan, which it claims as part of its territory, has been a major concern of the United States and other countries in the region, including the Philippines.
The expanded military access of the United States came as the two allies staged their largest ever iteration of the annual Balikatan with more than 17,500 Filipino, American and Australian forces, which runs from April 11 to April 28.On Friday, Filipino and American troops practiced defending an island from potential aggressors as part of an amphibious assault exercise in Palawan.
The Philippines and US ships will “group sail” toward Zambales after the scheduled exercises for other activities. INQSubscribe to our daily newsletter
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