- President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said his administration has no intention of granting the U.S. military additional access to Philippine Army camps.
- Under the 2014 agreement, President Marcos granted U.S. forces access to four more Philippine military bases, bringing the total to nine.
- This was primarily in response to China’s actions in the South China Sea.
The Philippine president said Monday that his administration has no plans to give U.S. troops access to any more Philippine Army camps, saying the U.S. military presence was prompted by China’s aggressive actions in the disputed South China Sea. emphasized.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who took office in 2022, has granted U.S. troops and weapons access to four more Philippine military bases, expanding the number of camps that U.S. troops can rotate indefinitely under a 2014 agreement. The number is now 9.
The Biden administration is strengthening the arc of security alliances in the region to better counter China, which is consistent with the Philippines’ efforts to strengthen its external defenses, particularly in the South China Sea.
South China Sea dispute in the Philippines could start World War III, experts say China “does not respect” treaties
Mr. Marcos’ decision last year caused concern in China because two of the new locations were located directly across Taiwan and southern China. Beijing has accused the Philippines of providing U.S. military presence there, saying it could be used to undermine its own security.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Monday that his administration has no plans to give the U.S. military any more access to Philippine Army camps, saying the U.S. military presence is a sign of China’s aggressive activities in the disputed South China Sea. He emphasized that it was caused by his actions. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
In response to questions at a forum with Manila-based foreign correspondents, Marcos did not provide details, but said, “There are no plans to create any more bases in the Philippines or give them access.” ” he said.
Asked whether he was provoking Chinese actions in the South China Sea by allowing the US military access to Philippine bases, Marcos said the US military presence was in response to China’s moves. Stated.
“These are responses to what happened in the South China Sea, the aggressive actions that we had to deal with,” he said, adding that water cannons were used to prevent Philippine vessels from entering waters claimed by China. and Chinese coast guard vessels using lasers. of itself. He also cited collisions, interference with Filipino fishermen, and seawalls that prevent ships from leaving Scarborough Shoal, which is in the Philippines’ economic zone.
Under the Marcos administration, the Philippines adopted a strategy of allowing journalists aboard patrol vessels and publicizing incidents to witness China’s assertive actions.
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“It is critical that the media continue to expose such practices that not only threaten regional peace and stability, but also undermine the rules-based order that has underpinned global development and prosperity over the last century,” Marcos said. Ta.
China sparked a standoff by invading what the Philippines claims is Chinese territorial waters and breaking an agreement to withdraw an old Philippine naval vessel that serves as a territorial outpost for Manila at the disputed Second Thomas Shoal. He is accusing him of this.
Mr. Marcos said he was not aware of any such agreement, adding that he believed it would be withdrawn if it existed.
President Joe Biden reiterated Washington’s “ironclad” commitment to protecting its Pacific allies during a White House summit with Marcos and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida last week. He reiterated that the United States has an obligation to defend the Philippines if its troops, aircraft, and ships come under armed attack.
