“These efforts are especially important as the People’s Republic of China continues to advance its illegitimate claims,” U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said, referring to Beijing’s territorial claims in the South China Sea. Mr. Austin, who announced the deal Thursday along with acting Philippine Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., said the two sides discussed ways to strengthen their alliance and military capabilities.
The deal falls under the countries’ Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, which dates back to 2014. The EDCA allows the U.S. military to build facilities at agreed-upon Philippine bases, preposition equipment, refuel and maintain aircraft and vessels and rotate troops through the bases.
In 2016, the two sides designated five Philippine bases for use under EDCA. The deal Thursday adds four more sites, nearly doubling the U.S. footprint.
[This is far more significant than weather balloons, and China knows it. It doesn’t just give us better logistics for defending Taiwan but also in challenging Beijing’s claim to control of the South China Sea. — Ed]
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