EDCA Sites Will Not Be Used By Philippines For Offensive Attacks, Says Marcos

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on Monday vowed that the Philippines will not use the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites to launch any offensive attacks, even as China said nations should "think carefully" about the United States' increased presence in the region.

"We will not let any of our bases be used for whatever offensive action. These are just to help the Philippines if the country needs any help," Marcos said during a celebration of the country's Day of Valor commemoration in Bataan, as reported by the Philippine Star.

"If nobody attacks us, then they do not need to worry because we will not fight them. We're only continuing to defend our territory, our republic," the Rappler quoted Marcos as saying.

On April 3, the government announced four new EDCA sites that will be used by rotating batches of U.S. armed forces on top of the five existing sites, following the signing of the agreement in 2014.

The U.S. had earlier said it was not seeking to establish permanent military bases in the country. The new EDCA sites would facilitate the training of local armed forces to respond to natural disasters and humanitarian concerns.

Similarly, the Department of National Defense had also earlier pointed out that the new EDCA sites "primarily consist of storage facilities" that will only be used during exercises and emergencies. Officials explained that the U.S. is funding the construction of new shared military bases, which in turn, would generate jobs for locals.

However, China seems indignant about the new development and warned against the increased military presence in the region.

"Will increased US military deployment in one's country or the region truly help protect sovereignty and security as well as regional peace and stability or rather cause grave irreparable consequences?" China's foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in a briefing on April 6. "Regional countries need to think carefully about this," she added.

The Chinese official also warned the new EDCA sites may draw the Philippines "into the whirlpool of a potential conflict in the Taiwan Strait."

But Marcos remained firm about the new EDCA sites, which he said should not be a concern for China.

"What we are doing is continuing to strengthen the defense of our territory and the republic," he said.