“The Philippine-U.S. alliance has stood the test of time and remains ironclad.'
Agreement comes amid tensions in South China Sea, over Taiwanhas granted the United States expanded access to its military bases, the countries said on Thursday, amid mounting concern over China’s increasing assertiveness in the disputed South China Sea and tensions over self-ruled Taiwan.
Washington would be given access to four more locations under an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement dating to 2014,“The Philippine-U.S. alliance has stood the test of time and remains ironclad. We look forward to the opportunities these new sites will create to expand our cooperation together,” the statementwas allocating more than $82 million toward infrastructure investments at the existing five sites under the EDCA.
The EDCA allows U.S. access to Philippine military bases for joint training, pre-positioning of equipment and the building of facilities such as runways, fuel storage and military housing, but not a permanent presence. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was in Manila for talks as Washington seeks to extend its security options in theThe statements did not specify where the new locations would be. The former Philippine military chiefthe United States had requested access to bases on the northern land mass of Luzon, the closest part of theto Taiwan, and on the island of Palawan, facing the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.
Marcos, who since his landslide victory in the presidential elections in May has twice met with U.S. President Joe Biden, reiterated he could not see a future for his country without its longtime treaty ally.and for that matter the Asia Pacific will always have to involve the United States,” Marcos told Austin.
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