Manila: The US has been given expanded access to the Philippines' military bases, according to the country's defence chiefs' announcement on Thursday. This gives American forces a strategic footing at a time of rising tensions over the disputed South China Sea and Taiwan's self-rule.
Manila and Washington have decided to hasten the full implementation of the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, which grants the US access to four more locations in key Philippine strategic areas for joint training and exercises.
A total of nine military facilities in the Southeast Asian nation would now be accessible to the US.
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Philippine Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez stated during their joint news conference that the move, which was made public during US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's visit to the Philippine capital, is intended to strengthen bilateral cooperation to support the Philippines' defence capabilities and to address urgent security threats in the region.
Along with partner nations, "we shall continue to work toward maintaining a stable, rules-based, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region," he told reporters.
"We share the same views that all countries should resolve any issue peacefully and adhere to international law and strongly oppose any unilateral action or attempt to disrupt the current global order."
According to Austin, the expansion will enable US and Philippine forces to collaborate more effectively from strategic locations throughout the Philippines.
He continued, "America's dedication to the defence of the Philippines is ironclad.
"Our alliance helps uphold a free and open Indo-Pacific and increases the security of both of our democracies."
He and Galvez also talked about how to deal with "destabilising activities" in the South China Sea and other areas surrounding Philippine waters.
Austin, using another name for the disputed waters, said: "These efforts are especially important as the People's Republic of China continues to advance its illegitimate claims in the West Philippine Sea."
Manila increased its military presence in the area in December in response to reports that Chinese activity had recently increased in the area and that China had begun appropriating unoccupied land features within Philippine waters.
The US State Department declared that it would be allocating more than $82 million for the upkeep and improvements of the military facilities in the Philippines.
The number of joint drills would increase, according to Arsenio Andolong, a spokesman for the Philippine Department of National Defense, despite Austin's claim that the US was not "seeking permanent basing in the Philippines."
The exercises we currently conduct with them will be broadened in scope and participant count...
More troops will participate in the exercises, he predicted.
Although the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement was signed almost ten years ago, it remained in limbo while former President Rodrigo Duterte led the Philippines away from Washington in favour of Beijing.
The June-installed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has since met with both US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, seems to be adopting a more pragmatic stance.
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He told Austin that he does not see a future for his nation without its longtime ally during a meeting on Thursday morning. The future of the Philippines and the Asia-Pacific region in general, he continued, "will always involve the United States."