EDCA sites our answer to China's nine-dash line

The Peoples' Republic of China, in 1947, came out of nowhere with what it called a “Location Map of South Sea Islands” with a highly-questionable claim designated by nine dash lines, rather than a straight line, enclosing no less than 85.7% of the entire South China Sea, covering three million square kilometers. Such an outrageous claim has been contested by the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Malaysia. Today, we shall defend our territorial domains with nine EDCA sites augmenting our forces and capability.

China's claim is being contested by practically all members of the international community of nations, including leading members of the UN, EU, NATO, ASEAN, and APEC. The civilized nations insist China's claims should be resolved peacefully and not by forcible entry and belated construction of artificial islands and controversial infrastructures in contested territories. There’s an UNCLOS or the United Nations' Convention on the Law of The Seas and all claims should be submitted to arbitration or peaceful negotiation. The Philippines, like the US, embraces peaceful means as the only acceptable mode of resolving any territorial dispute.

The so-called nine-dash line is a fake concoction denounced by the international arbitration body based in The Hague which declared that most of the islets, coves, shoals and maritime waters included in the lines belong to the Philippines. China doesn’t recognize the arbitral award despite the fact that it is a signatory to UNCLOS. China insists on its dirty tactics of double-dealing. It wants to negotiate with the Philippines on a one-on-one basis and it denounces in quite strong terms and harsh language the so-called "interference" of the US in the matter. But on its own, America has a huge stake in that area because annually, trillions of its products are transported by US vessels that pass through international waters being claimed unlawfully by China.

The Philippines' rightful response to China is to strengthen our political and security agreements with the US, and its allies. We also build strong ties with EU and NATO and Middle Eastern nations where most of our OFWs work and reside. With enhanced defense capability and with a formidable support by the US and its allies in the Asia Pacific, we may have the dignity to stand up to the giant bullies like China, Russia, and North Korea. For the longest time, China has been insulting the Philippines by bullying our fisherfolk who are only fishing inside our exclusive economic zones. Today, we have the courage and the wherewithal to assert our rights.

The total of nine EDCA sites include four very strategic air bases which can accommodate US aircraft and war materiel that can be transported with a speed and sense of urgency to the West Philippine Sea. These include the Benito Ebuen Air Base adjacent to the Mactan-Cebu International Airport. This air base was used as the refueling and reconnaissance point as well as rest and recreation site for American troops during the Vietnam War. In fact, it became a permanent C-130 base housing the 772nd and 774th Troop Carrier Squadrons of the 463rd Troop Carrier Wing. It also became a crew rest stop site for C-0124 and C-133 crews relieving the then congested Clark Air Base.

Then we have the Lumbia Airport in Cagayan de Oro City which used to be a commercial airport prior to the operationalization of the Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental in 2013. This airport is now under the control of the 10th Tactical Operations Group of the Philippine Air Force. But being designated as an EDCA site it is ready to welcome US troops to be deployed by the US military authorities. What is now Cesar Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, Pampanga, was built by the US Army before World War II but was captured and used by the Japanese Imperial Army. Now the Lal-lo Airport in Cagayan will augment these resources and shall definitely be an appropriate home to US troops who shall be deployed under the EDCA.

The Chinese should think twice or even more now that we have the Americans right in our territory. Some Filipinos would feel bad that there are foreign troops inside our sovereign nation. But our pragmatist and realist leaders realize that we need the US to stand by our side and help us defend our territories in the event of aggression by China, North Korea, or Russia. When we are facing a real and imminent threat, we can set aside unrealistic wishes and idealism. We have to face the music and bite the bullet.