Philippines 'cannot allow US to stockpile arms' that can be deployed to defend Taiwan

Philippines, on April 18, asserted that United States cannot store arms in country that will be used by self-ministered island of Taiwan to counter belligerent activities of People's Republic of China [PRC]. At  Senate enquiry on Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo iterated that  Philippines will be "guided by provisions of EDCA and our own national interest" and will turn down request by US to store ammunition at selected sites, according to Manila-based paper Phistar Global. Such a decision "will be guided by main purposes" of US-Manila Defense deal, said Manalo. 

"We would not agree to any kind of activity or even materiel not consistent with se agreed activities," Manalo was quoted as saying by newspaper. "Our view is that EDCA is not aimed at any third country outside its meant for use for Philippines and of course in connection with our treaty with United States," he ded. 

Our main foreign policy is really to be friends to all: Philippines FM

Philippines' Senate foreign affairs panel's chairperson questioned if country should agree to US caching weapons at EDCA sites in Philippines. She cited 2023 US National Defense Authorization Act which allowed for a contingency stockpile in Taiwan. In response to this, Manalo said: "I think, at this stage, our main foreign policy is really to be friends to all. And refore, I think, anything that is inconsistent with that would not be also consistent with our position." He n noted that Philippines will also not allow US troops to refuel, repair and relo at EDCA sites.

sites mentioned by Manila were identified in norrn and western Philippines. At least two sites for storage of US weapons were declared at Cagayan, anor in Isabela and one or in Palawan. refore sites under defence deal with US totalled to nine. According to Philippines' Department of National Defense officer-in-charge Carlito Galvez Jr., sites were carefully chosen to ramp up external defence of Philippines and country's own "vulnerability" in north.