Philippines agrees to allow US wider access to military bases

The U.S. and the Philippines announced an agreement Thursday to expand America’s military presence in the Southeast Asian country, with U.S. forces granted access to four more Philippine military camps as Washington beefs up its efforts to deter China..With this step, US forces will have a greater strategic footing on the southeastern edge of the South China Sea close to self-ruled Taiwan. The newly announced deal will give the US access to four more locations under an Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement dating 2014. It will allow the US to rotate troops to a total of nine bases throughout the Philippines. The US has in recent months, stepped up efforts to expand its Indo-Pacific security options amid rising concerns over China's growing activities in the region.

The agreement between the longtime treaty allies was made public during the visit of U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III. Austin thanked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., whom he briefly met in Manila, for allowing the U.S. military to broaden its presence in the Philippines. American leaders have long sought to reorient U.S. foreign policy to better reflect the rise of China as a significant military and economic competitor.