As China Concerns Grow, Philippines Grants U.S. Greater Access to Military Bases

By Karen Lema

MANILA (Reuters – The Philippines granted the United States more access to its military bases. This was in response to growing concern about China’s assertiveness and tensions over Taiwan.

In accordance with the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, four more US locations will be made available to the United States. This was announced by Lloyd Austin, U.S. Defense Secretary, and Carlito Galvez, Philippines’ Defense secretary.

Austin, who was visiting the Philippines to meet with officials, said that the United States is looking to increase its security options in order to prevent any China-led move against Taiwan. “big deal” He and his counterpart also reaffirmed their determination to strengthen their alliance.

“Our alliance makes both of our democracies more secure and helps uphold a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Austin’s visit comes after that of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, who made a stop on Palawan Island in the South China Sea.

“We discussed concrete actions to address destabilising activities in the waters surrounding the Philippines, including the West Philippine Sea, and we remain committed to strengthening our mutual capacities to resist armed attack,” Austin said.

“That’s just part of our efforts to modernize our alliance. And these efforts are especially important as People’s Republic of China continues to advance its illegitimate claims in the West Philippine Sea,” He added.

China claims that increased U.S. access Philippine military bases could undermine regional stability, thereby causing tensions.

“This is an act that escalates tensions in the region and endangers regional peace and stability,” In a regular briefing, Mao Ning, China’s foreign minister spokesperson, stated.

“Regional countries should remain vigilant about this and avoid being used by the U.S.”

The EDCA adds nine additional military bases to the list of US military bases. The United States announced that it would allocate more than $82million for infrastructure improvements at existing sites.

The EDCA grants access to the U.S. military bases in the Philippines for joint training, prepositioning equipment, and building facilities like runways, fuel storage, military housing, and other military purposes. However, it does not allow for a permanent presence.

Galvez and Austin did not give specific details about the locations that would be open to U.S. access. Former Philippine military chief said that the United States requested access to bases on Luzon in the northern part of the Philippines, which is the closest part to Taiwan. Also, Galvez did not specify the locations to be opened to U.S. access.

Hundreds of protestors chanted anti-U.S. messages and demanded that the EDCA be scrapped outside the military headquarters.

Austin met Ferdinand Marcos the Philippine President before meeting with his counterpart. They assured each other of U.S. assistance.

“We stand ready to help you in any way we can,” Austin said.

Rodrigo Duterte was the former president of the United States. He made overtures toward China, was well-known for anti-U.S. rhetoric, threats to reduce military ties, and made a mockery of the ties between the United States (and its colony) and the United States.

Marcos met President Joe Biden twice, the son of Ferdinand Marcos and former dictator Marcos. He stated that he cannot see a country’s future without its long-standing treaty ally.

“I have always said, it seems to me, the future of the Philippines and for that matter the Asia-Pacific will always have to involve the United States,” Marcos told Austin.

(Reporting by Karen Lema. Additional reporting by Eduardo Baptista. Editing by Ed Davies. Gerry Doyle.

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