The United States intends to increase its military presence in the Philippines amid escalating tensions between China and the island of Taiwan, US and Philippine authorities announced Thursday.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has agreed to allow US military troops to be stationed at various bases in the Philippine islands to expand their presence in the region to ensure stability. and increase “interoperability” with regional allies.
Under the agreement, which was announced by top leaders at the Camp Aguinaldo military headquarters in Manila, Philippines, US forces will have access to four more Philippine military camps, giving them areas to provide troops, training and military resources as the countries they seek to deter an increasingly aggressive China.
During a joint press conference, Marcos commented on the “complicated” situation in the Pacific, saying his country depends on US strength and the partnership between the two countries to prevent tensions from escalating into a possible military conflict.
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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., center, speaks with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd James Austin III, third from left, during a courtesy visit at the Malacanang Palace in Manila, Philippines, on Thursday February 2, 2023.
(Jam Sta Rosa/Pool Photo via AP)
It is “something that we can only properly navigate with the help of our allies and partners,” he said.
Austin echoed these comments, calling the Philippines “a key and important ally” and saying that US global policy is to continue to strengthen this relationship in every way possible.
“So from a defense perspective, we’ll continue to work together with our great partners to build and modernize their capability, as well as increase our interoperability. So we’re very, very happy to be here once again, and I look forward to a great debate,” said the defense secretary.
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The Philippines and the US also said in a joint statement that “substantial” progress has been made on projects at five Philippine military camps, where Philippine officials previously allowed access to US military personnel under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, or EDCA.
“EDCA is a key pillar of the US-Philippines partnership, supporting combined training, exercises, and interoperability between our forces,” the US-Philippines said.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, second from left, walks past military guards during his arrival at the Department of National Defense’s Camp Aguinaldo military camp in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, Thursday, May 2. February 2023.
(Rolex Dela Pena/Pool Photo via AP)
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, second from left, walks past military guards during his arrival at the Department of National Defense’s Camp Aguinaldo military camp in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, Thursday, May 2. February 2023.
(Rolex Dela Pena/Pool Photo via AP)
The joint statement continued: “The addition of these new EDCA locations will enable faster support for weather-related and humanitarian disasters in the Philippines, and respond to other shared challenges.”
“The Philippine-American alliance has stood the test of time and remains strong,” they added. “We look forward to the opportunities these new sites will create to expand our cooperation together.”
No additional details were provided on the location and size of additional Philippine camps where US forces could build barracks, warehouses and hangars.
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Austin noted that the United States was not seeking a “permanent” presence on the bases.
Marcos Jr., who took office in June, negotiated regional deterrence with the leaders of Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan as China continues military operations in the Pacific.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd James Austin III, right, poses with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr during a courtesy visit at the Malacanang Palace in Manila, Philippines, Thursday, February 2, 2023.
(Jam Sta Rosa/Pool Photo via AP)
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd James Austin III, right, shakes hands with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during a courtesy call at the Malacanang Palace in Manila, Philippines, Thursday, May 2. February 2023.
(Jam Sta Rosa/Pool Photo via AP)
China has also dominated waterways amid territorial disputes over the busy and rich South China Sea.
Washington does not maintain any official claims over the disputes in the South China Sea, but has said it would defend against possible attacks on regional allies. President Biden said the United States would send troops to defend Taiwan in the event China invaded the semi-autonomous region, though the White House later refuted this statement.
The United States and most of the world recognize the One China Policy, which says that Taiwan is not a country and is not independent of China. Instead, the policy says that the democratic region falls exclusively under Chinese rule.
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Washington has deployed warships and surveillance planes to patrol the region, which it says is to promote freedom of navigation and the rule of law, which has angered Beijing.
Demonstrators hold banners as they protest against the visit of US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in front of the Camp Aguinaldo military barracks in Greater Manila, Philippines, Thursday, February 2, 2023.
(AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Demonstrators chant slogans as they protest against the visit of US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in front of the Camp Aguinaldo military barracks in Greater Manila, Philippines, Thursday, February 2, 2023.
(AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Some protesters were seen on the streets in front of the Austin-Marcos meeting. Several posters called for the withdrawal of US troops.
The Philippines is the oldest treaty ally of the US in Asia and used to be home to two of the largest US Navy and Air Force bases outside of the Americas. The bases were closed in the early 1990s.
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The Philippine Constitution prohibits the permanent base of foreign troops, but the EDCA defense pact allows visiting US forces to remain indefinitely in rotating batches within designated Philippine camps. The agreement makes concessions for defense equipment, but does not allow nuclear weapons.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
