…The EDCA doesn’t help deter Chinese encroachments.
The usual pro-EDCA argument contends that the Philippines cannot defend itself without it. Let’s take this apart.
First, as we just argued, US forces will not intervene until there’s a shooting war with China — not much help in deterring territorial encroachments.
Second, scrapping the agreement does not mean the US will not protect the Philippines from invasion. What ensures American defense is the strategic imperative not to allow a hostile power to take over the archipelago and use it as a regional military platform, as the EDCA now allows US forces to do.
Third, the pact has not provided the anti-access, area denial armaments (A2/AD) which Washington defense think tank Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments says the Philippines needs: anti-ship coastal weaponry, maritime surveillance aircraft and air defense systems.
And why not? Just a wild guess, but maybe it’s because if we get the arms to counter Chinese intrusions, we’d depend less on America.