U.S. To Gain Military Access In North Philippines Near Taiwan

Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Philippines president, at a news conference following the EU-ASEAN Commemorative summit in Brussels, Belgium, on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022. The European Union will propose a €10 billion ($10.6 billion) investment package to countries in Southeast Asia as the European bloc seeks to strengthen ties with the region to diversify supply chains and rally support against Russia.

(Bloomberg) -- Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the U.S. will gain expanded access to military sites in northern Philippines close to Taiwan, as well as in Palawan province near South China Sea, paving the way for greater American presence in key locations as tensions with Beijing linger.

Marcos said at a televised briefing on Wednesday that the four additional sites under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement are “scattered around the Philippines” and will be identified once formalized with the U.S.

The new sites are meant to “defend” the main Luzon island's eastern coast as well as some areas in the south, the president said. Local politicians who initially opposed the sites have “come around to support” the plan to expand U.S. access after talks with the national government, he added.

The U.S. last month secured access to four more Philippine military sites amid continued tensions with Beijing over Taiwan and the South China Sea. China has criticized the plan, with its embassy in Manila describing it as part of US' attempt to “encircle and contain” Beijing.

Marcos has been bolstering his nation's longstanding defense alliance with the US that was strained under his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte. The U.S. and the Philippines are planning joint patrols in the disputed sea, and are scheduled to hold bigger military drills next month. Their top defense officials and diplomats are also set to meet in Washington mid-April.

U.S., Philippines Tout Perks of Military Deal Opposed By China

At the same briefing, the president also said that lawmakers proposing amendments to the constitution are aiming to revise economic provisions that would allow the Philippines to “take full advantage of the new economy.”

In a speech during the Philippine Army's founding anniversary celebration earlier on Wednesday, Marcos said his government remains committed to modernizing the military.

“To the army leadership, I am aware that the emerging threat to our territory and our emphasis on addressing this threat requires adjustments in our strategies,” the president said. “The external security environment is becoming more complex, it is becoming more unpredictable,” he also said while telling the soldiers to be vigilant.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com