SolGen: No assurance US will defend Philippines vs China

MANILA, Philippines - The Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) does not guarantee that the United States will come to the aid of the Philippines in case of an armed conflict in the contested South China Sea, the government's chief legal counsel said Tuesday.

During the EDCA oral arguments at the Supreme Court, Solicitor General Florin Hilbay said the new defense deal will help the Philippines improve its military facilities although there is no assurance that that the United States (US) will defend its ally from attacks and invasions.

"There is no guarantee about the future," Hilbay told Justice Antonio Carpio. "What is important with the EDCA, your honor, is it entangles the United States to the interest of the Philippines, and that is good."

Hilbay denied claiming that the country can rely on EDCA for its defense.

"We're not starry-eyed and saying that EDCA will save the country from all its problems. What we're saying that this helps improves runways, barracks, training facilities, ports, those matters that are related to the training exercises between the Philippine and US forces," he said.

Hilbay said the Philippines has no other choice but to rely on itself. He added, however, that there is nothing preventing the Philippines from taking advantage of its existing defense alliance with the US.

Still, Hilbay maintained that despite EDCA, there is no guarantee that the US will defend the Philippines because its actions cannot be predicted.

The EDCA is a 10-year deal that allows a bigger American military presence in the country. Hilbay said the accord "might be part of a whole range of responses" of President Aquino to China's aggression in the contested waters.

The EDCA was signed during the visit here of US President Barrack Obama, who said the US has an "ironclad commitment" to defend the Philippines.

Obama also said, however, that it is not the goal of the US to contain China, which has expanded its activities in the disputed sea to press its "indisputable sovereignty."

In the EDCA oral arguments, Carpio pointed out the US government's statement that it will not take sides in the South China Sea dispute.

When asked by Carpio if he is hoping that the US will defend the Philippines against China, Hilbay said "We do what we do. We do what we can. And let's hope for the best... That is the reality."