No imminent attack from China, NSC says on Imee’s missile threat claim

THE NATIONAL Security Council (NSC) said Wednesday it sees “no threat of any imminent attack” from China, even as Senator Imee Marcos claimed that more than 20 areas in the country were potential targets of Chinese hypersonic missiles.

“We will reach out to Senator Imee to get more information about her statement because we are not aware of any of the security threats she mentioned,” NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya told reporters in a text message.

According to Malaya, the Philippines and China “reaffirmed their commitment to deescalating tensions in the West (Philippine) Sea” during the 9th Bilateral Consultation Meeting on Tuesday.

“There was also substantial progress on developing measures to manage the situation at the West Philippine Sea, including improving maritime communications,” he said.

“The PH and PRC (People’s Republic of China) maintain cordial relations and are committed to managing whatever differences there may be, thus, we see no threat of any imminent attack from the PRC.”

Earlier, Senator Marcos, sister of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., reportedly expressed concern over China’s alleged plan to attack 25 areas in the country, including Batanes and Ilocos, using “hypersonic missiles.”

The move is supposedly in response to the Philippines' Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the United States, which gives American forces access to Philippine military camps to enhance cooperation.

In February last year, President Marcos granted the country's long-standing ally access to four more Philippine military camps on top of the five existing locations under the EDCA – the Naval Base Camilo Osias in Sta. Ana, Cagayan; Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo, Cagayan; Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; and Balabac Island in Palawan.

The first five EDCA locations were Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro, Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, and Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu. (Darryl John Esguerra)