{"id":2032943,"date":"2023-09-15T08:31:01","date_gmt":"2023-09-15T12:31:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-eyeing-access-to-additional-military-bases-in-philippines\/"},"modified":"2023-09-15T08:34:13","modified_gmt":"2023-09-15T12:34:13","slug":"us-eyeing-access-to-additional-military-bases-in-philippines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-eyeing-access-to-additional-military-bases-in-philippines\/","title":{"rendered":"US seeks more military bases in Philippines."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fus-eyeing-access-to-additional-military-bases-in-philippines%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2032943&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>The United States Considers\u2063 Expanding Military Bases in the Philippines<\/h2>\n<p>The United States is exploring \u2062the possibility of gaining access to\u2064 more\u200c military bases\u2063 in the Philippines through the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement \u200b(EDCA), according \u2063to Adm. John Aquilino, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. In a meeting with Philippine military \u200dchief Romeo Brawner, they have made recommendations\u200b to expand the existing EDCA sites.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;We are in discussions, \u200cbut everyone has a boss, and we both\u200b have bosses. We&#8217;ll have those conversations I think in private and give our\u200c bosses some decision space on how \u200dthey&#8217;d like to\u200d go forward,&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Adm. Aquilino stated, as reported by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pna.gov.ph\/articles\/1209883\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Philippine\u2064 News Agency.<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Boosting\u200c Defense and Intelligence Cooperation<\/h3>\n<p>During the annual meeting on bilateral defense cooperation in \u2063Manila, \u2062Adm. Aquilino \u200dalso mentioned that the allies\u200d are working on an agreement to enhance\u200c intelligence sharing. This comes after\u2063 the two countries \u2063reached a deal \u2063earlier this year, granting American \u200dforces\u200d access to four new military bases in the Philippines, in addition to\u2064 the existing five \u2063under the \u2063EDCA.<\/p>\n<p>Three of the new\u200c sites\u2063 are\u200b strategically located near Taiwan, while \u200done is\u200b situated\u2064 near\u200c the disputed Spratly Islands in the \u2062South China Sea.<\/p>\n<p>The United \u2064States plans to\u200b invest approximately $110 million in these nine sites to strengthen \u2063the capabilities of Philippine forces and provide\u2062 necessary\u2062 infrastructure for U.S. forces when invited.<\/p>\n<p>Mr. Brawner \u2062emphasized that the \u2063Philippine government is also allocating\u2063 its own resources to develop these sites,\u2063 highlighting\u200c the \u200dcommitment to enhance cooperation and \u2062readiness \u2062in addressing \u200bsecurity challenges and humanitarian crises.<\/p>\n<h2>China&#8217;s Provocative Actions\u200b in Philippine \u200dWaters<\/h2>\n<p>Amid concerns over Beijing&#8217;s encroachment in the South China Sea and military drills near Taiwan, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported that four Chinese coast guard\u2064 ships and four <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-eyeing-access-to-additional-military-bases-in-philippines\/\" title=\"US seeks more military bases in Philippines.\">maritime militia vessels recently surrounded<\/a> their ships in Ayungin Shoal.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>The Chinese ships conducted \u2064&#8221;dangerous maneuvers&#8221; while the PCG ships were on\u200b a resupply mission, endangering the safety of \u2064crew members,\u2063 according to\u2062 the PCG.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Philippine \u2064President Ferdinand \u2062Marcos Jr. expressed \u200bconcerns \u2063about China&#8217;s &#8220;illegal,\u2062 unreported, and \u200cunregulated fishing&#8221; and the militarization of reclaimed features \u2062in the South China Sea.<\/p>\n<p>China&#8217;s recent revision of its national map, featuring a &#8220;10-dash line&#8221; \u200bthat includes \u2062Taiwan, has been rejected\u200d by five neighboring countries, including \u200bthe Philippines, as it overlaps with their territorial claims. \u200cTaiwan has also \u200baffirmed its independence \u2064from China.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the 2016 ruling by the Hague Tribunal in favor of the Philippines&#8217; territorial disputes over the South China Sea,\u200d China has refused to acknowledge the decision.<\/p>\n<p><em>Reuters contributed to this report.<\/em><\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> \u200bWhat are the\u200d potential \u200cbenefits and drawbacks of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/taiwan-says-china-is-boosting-military-bases-near-island\/\" title=\"Taiwan claims China is expanding military bases near the island.\">expanding military bases<\/a> in the\u2064 Philippines for the United \u200dStates and the Philippines?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Ng the\u200b Philippines access to U.S. \u200dintelligence gathering and \u200csurveillance\u2063 information. The expansion of military bases\u2062 in the Philippines would further enhance the defense \u200cand intelligence cooperation between the two nations.<\/p>\n<p>The United States has a\u200c long history of military presence\u200b in the Philippines. It\u200c was in 1898, after\u200c the \u200dSpanish-American War, that the \u2062Philippines came \u200cunder U.S.\u200c control. The \u2063United States established several military \u200bbases\u2062 across the country, most notably\u2062 Subic Bay Naval Base and Clark Air Base. However, the U.S. military\u2064 presence \u200bsignificantly reduced in the 1990s,\u2064 following the \u200brejection of a \u200cnew treaty by the \u200cPhilippine Senate.<\/p>\n<p>The Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, signed in 2014, aims to strengthen\u2062 the\u2064 defense ties\u200d between the United States and the Philippines. \u200bIt allows for \u200cincreased rotational presence of\u2064 U.S. forces \u2064in the \u2063country, as \u2064well as greater access to Philippine military\u200d facilities. The agreement \u2064was \u200dviewed as a response to China&#8217;s\u2064 growing assertiveness in the South China\u200b Sea, as it provided the United \u200dStates with a\u200d strategic foothold in the\u2062 region.<\/p>\n<p>The\u2064 proposed\u2063 expansion of military\u200d bases in the Philippines\u2063 is\u200b driven by several factors. Firstly, given the increasing tensions in the \u2064South China Sea, the United States sees the need to bolster its military presence in the region. The\u200b Philippines,\u200d being \u2063a key\u2063 ally, offers strategic\u200d advantages\u2064 in this\u200b regard. Secondly, the United\u200d States is also concerned about the growing influence of China in the Philippines \u200band its potential impact on regional stability. By expanding \u2063military bases, the United States aims to counterbalance China&#8217;s influence and maintain its \u200bown position\u2063 as a regional power.<\/p>\n<p>However, the expansion of \u2063military bases in\u2062 the Philippines\u2063 is not without controversy.\u2062 There are concerns \u200cabout the \u200cpotential negative impact on Philippine sovereignty and the country&#8217;s relationship with China. Critics \u2064argue that\u200c the increased U.S. military presence may\u200d provoke China and escalate tensions in the region. Furthermore, \u2064activists and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/refugee-watchdog-calls-for-immediate-action-in-ethiopia\/\" title=\"Refugee Watchdog Calls for Immediate Action in Ethiopia\">human rights organizations<\/a> have\u2064 raised concerns about the potential for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/just-like-the-good-old-days-joe-biden-invades-syria-with-convoy-of-us-troops-and-choppers-on-first-full-day-as-president\/\" title=\"Just Like the Good Old Days: Joe Biden Invades Syria with Convoy of US Troops and Choppers on First Full Day as President\">human rights abuses<\/a> and\u200c the negative effects on local communities.<\/p>\n<p>It is important\u200b for \u2062both the United States \u2064and the \u200bPhilippines to carefully consider\u2062 these concerns \u2063and\u200b address them in \u2064the decision-making process. The \u2064expansion of military bases should\u200c be \u2062approached with a clear understanding of\u2063 the potential \u200dbenefits and drawbacks. It is crucial to ensure that the interests of both countries are protected, while\u200c also\u200d maintaining regional stability \u2063and respecting\u2063 the sovereignty of\u2063 the \u2063Philippines.<\/p>\n<p>The discussions on expanding \u2063military bases in the Philippines reflect the evolving dynamics of\u2064 the\u2062 U.S.-Philippines alliance. In \u2064an increasingly\u200d complex security environment, both countries recognize the importance of deepening their defense\u200b and intelligence cooperation. As the \u200dnegotiations continue, it is\u2064 important for transparency, dialogue, and cooperation \u2064to guide the decision-making process. The expansion of military \u200cbases should \u2062be\u200d seen not just as a strategic move, but as \u2063an\u2062 opportunity to\u200d strengthen the longstanding alliance between the United States and \u200cthe Philippines.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, the decision\u200c regarding the expansion of military bases in the \u200bPhilippines\u2062 rests in\u2064 the hands of the respective governments. \u200dIt is important for\u2064 them to consider the broader implications of such a move and to ensure that it is in the best interests of both nations. With careful deliberation and open communication, the \u2063United States and\u2063 the Philippines \u200bcan continue to\u2062 strengthen their defense ties and contribute to regional\u200b peace and stability.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The US is contemplating expanding its military bases in the Philippines through the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), according to Adm. John Aquilino, commander of US Indo-Pacific Command. Aquilino and Philippine military chief Romeo Brawner have proposed expanding EDCA sites, and recommendations have been made to senior leaders.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":299,"featured_media":2032944,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2032943","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2032943","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/299"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2032943"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2032943\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2032944"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2032943"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2032943"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2032943"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}