China expert says EDCA sites aimed at Beijing's Taiwan ops

A Chinese think-tank expert believes the new Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in the Philippines are intended to counter China's operations near Taiwan.

Professor Hu Bo of the SCS Strategic Situation Probing Initiative stated that these new sites will "definitely will be used against China's operations around Taiwan," suggesting the Philippines may be passively involved in the Taiwan issue.

However, Filipino experts argue that the EDCA sites are for defensive purposes and serve as a deterrent against external threats.

Professor Renato de Castro views the EDCA sites as a calculated risk to deter a potential Chinese invasion of Northern Luzon if conflict arises over Taiwan.

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning stated that the new EDCA sites may draw the Philippines into a potential conflict in the Taiwan Strait.

Mao added that regional countries should see clearly who is fueling tensions across the Taiwan Strait and not pull someone else's chestnuts out of the fire at their own expense.