DAVAO CITY – As the Marcos Jr. administration allows US access to military bases in the country under an existing defense agreement, former President Rodrigo Duterte warned that the Philippines may become a “battleground” if the tension between the US and China progresses to war.
FORMER President Duterte with close ally Sen. Bong Go. (Sen. Bong Go FB)
During his program “Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa” streamed live over the SMNI News on Monday, June 12, Duterte believed that the US wants to establish military presence in the Philippines to make the country a “buffer zone” to thwart the Chinese forces or prevent them from advancing into the Pacific.
The former President added that the Philippines would be caught in a crossfire as China would attack the closest US military installations in the country in the event of a war.
These military bases are the Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Basa Airbase in Pampanga, Antonio Bautista Airbase in Palawan, Mactan-Benito Abuen Airbase in Cebu, and Lumbia Airbase in Cagayan de Oro City.
“EDCA means soldiers and arms. That's about it. It has nothing to do with economic grants or any other relationship between nations. It simply means the presence of foreign troops in our country,” Duterte stressed.
Duterte said that the relationship of the US with China has been strained.
He added that the Philippines is an important “buffer zone” for the US, as the Chinese forces would still have to move past the US military installations here before reaching the US territories in the Pacific and on to the mainland.
“The frontlines of the US in the Pacific are Guam, and Mariana Islands going to Hawaii, and then to the mainland (US). So, the Philippines is important for them as a buffer zone…That’s the problem because I’ll just say it…With due respect to the President, if they allowed EDCA, you would think that was all, but slowly they wanted military bases in this country from Luzon, to Visayas, and Mindanao,” he added.
Duterte said he believes the initial armed confrontation of the US and China would happen in the Philippines.
He said that “war seems to be just around the corner,” particularly with the tension over Taiwan distressingly growing.
“The mainland China wants to take Taiwan back, but Taiwan is resisting and asked America to help them or help the island country to resist the advances of mainland China,” he said.