America's Military Will Gain Expanded Access to Philippine Bases. But Why?
America wants a stronger foothold in the Philippines, its oldest ally in Asia, and will gain expanded access to its military bases, the two countries confirmed on February 2, 2023.
“The newly announced deal will give the US access to four more locations under an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) dating to 2014, allowing the US to rotate troops to a total of nine bases throughout the Philippines,” a CNN report revealed.
U.S. Defense Secretary Llyod Austin for the joint announcement.
“That’s just part of our efforts to modernize our alliance. And these efforts are especially important as the People’s Republic of China continues to advance its illegitimate claims in the West Philippine Sea,” said Austin.
He was pertaining to China’s increased aggression in the West Philippine Sea, a part of the South China Sea in which the Philippines exercises sovereign rights under international law. China illegally claims the entirety of the South China Sea, claiming it has “historical rights” to the maritime area despite a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration declaring China’s Nine-Dash Line demarcating its claim on the entire sea illegal.
In response to the renewed strategic alliance between the Philippines and the U.S., China has accused America of stirring up tensions in the region and reliving the Cold War.
“Out of its selfish agenda, the US side has held up to the cold war. Regional countries should remain vigilant about this and avoid being used by the US,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on the same day.
Why Choose the Philippines for American Military Bases?
The U.S. considers the Philippines as a strategic ally that lies on the second tier of defense (the first is Taiwan) in the Pacific to counter China’s rise. It is crucial for the U.S. to gain a strong foothold in the Philippines, which boxes in China’s strategic reach in the Pacific. To China, getting a solid command and control of the South China Sea is a core interest that is non-negotiable—something the U.S. ensures it will not achieve, by conducting freedom of navigation operations in the very waters China is claiming it owns. U.S. warships occasionally visit Philippine ports to restock and provide a break to its servicemen.
But there are other U.S. allies in the region: ??Australia, South Korea, Japan, and Thailand. Why enhance U.S. presence in the Philippines?
That’s because of all the most important U.S. allies in Asia, the Philippines is geographically closest to Taiwan and is foreseen to play a crucial part in U.S. strategy in case of a Chinese attack on Taiwan.
