Philippines’ Defense department hushes China on Batanes buildup
By Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, Reporter
The Philippines rebuked China over the weekend for warning against the Southeast Asian nation’s plan to boost its military presence in its northernmost island group close to Taiwan, reminding Beijing that it has no right to comment on how it runs its affairs within its territory.
“Batanes is Philippine territory and China has no business warning the Philippines about what it does within its own territory,” the Department of National Defense (DND) said in a statement, responding to remarks from the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Wang Wenbin, last week.
In a press conference on Feb. 8, Mr. Wang said the Philippines should “tread carefully” and should not “play with fire,” commenting of Manila’s boosting its military buildup near Taiwan, which has governed independently of Beijing since the 1949.
In a statement, the DND said its plan to build more structures in Batanes is part of the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept, which seeks to enhance the Philippines’ capability to defend its national interest.
The Naval Forces Northern Luzon on Feb. 7 said Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. had ordered an increase in military presence and facilities in Batanes after inspecting Naval Detachment Basco, Naval Detachment Mavulis, Itbayat Airport, and the Multi-Agency Facility in Mahatao.
Citing the Defense chief, it said Batanes is “the ‘spearhead of the Philippines as far as the northern baseline is concerned.”
Reacting to the development, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said “the Taiwan question is at the heart of China’s core interests” and is “a red line and bottom line that must not be crossed.”
The DND statement on Sunday said China “should refrain from engaging in provocative rhetoric and activities.”
In February last year, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. gave the US access to four more military bases on top of the five existing sites under the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).
Three of the new EDCA sites are in parts of northern Luzon facing Taiwan while one is in the island of Palawan facing the South China Sea.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos had reiterated that his country still recognizes the supposed sovereignty of China over Taiwan, days after he was criticized by Beijing for recognizing the election of Taiwan’s President-elect Lai Ching-te, whom the Chinese government has tagged as a dangerous separatist.