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Greater US access to Philippine bases hurts regional stability: China
Washington would be given expanded access to four more locations under an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) dating to 2014, statements on Thursday from the defence ministries of the Philippines and United States said.
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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr (left) receives US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin prior to a meeting at the Malacanang Palace in Manila on February 2, 2023.
(AFP/Jam Sta Rosa)
T
he Philippines granting the United States greater access to military bases hurts regional stability and raises tensions, China's foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in a regular briefing on Thursday.
Washington would be given expanded access to four more locations under an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) dating to 2014, statements on Thursday from the defence ministries of the Philippines and United States said.
The United States and the Philippines announced a deal Thursday to give US troops access to another four bases in the Southeast Asian nation, as the longtime allies seek to counter China's military rise.
The agreement to expand cooperation in "strategic areas of the country" was made during a visit by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
It comes as the countries seek to repair ties that were fractured in recent years. Previous Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte favoured China over his country's former colonial master, but the new administration of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been keen to reverse that.
Beijing's growing assertiveness on Taiwan and its building of bases in the disputed South China Sea have given fresh impetus to Washington and Manila to strengthen their partnership.
Given its proximity to Taiwan and its surrounding waters, the Philippines' cooperation would be key in the event of a conflict with China, which a four-star US Air Force general has warned could happen as early as 2025.
"We're pleased to announce today that President Marcos has approved four new (Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement) locations and that brings the total number of EDCA sites to nine," Austin said during a news conference with his Philippine counterpart Carlito Galvez.
Talks were ongoing for a potential 10th site, a senior Philippine official told AFP earlier.
The announcement came as the United States reopened its embassy in the Solomon Islands, after a 30-year hiatus, as it competes with China for influence in the South Pacific.
