Last month, Mr. Marcos granted the United States access to four new sites, in addition to the five existing sites under the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Photo: Reuters
"There are four additional locations scattered throughout the Philippines - there are some in the north, there are some around Palawan, there are some further south," Marcos told reporters on the sidelines of the Philippine military's founding anniversary.
EDCA allows the US access to Philippine bases for joint training, pre-positioning of equipment and construction of facilities such as runways, fuel storage and military housing, but it is not a permanent presence.
The Philippines and the United States will soon announce the locations of the new bases, Mr. Marcos said, adding that the locations would enhance the country's ability to defend the "eastern" side of the island of Luzon.
China's Foreign Ministry reiterated on Wednesday that the US was raising tensions by increasing military deployments in the region, adding that countries should "remain vigilant" and avoid being taken advantage of by the US.
"We believe that defense cooperation between countries should be beneficial to regional peace and stability, and should not be aimed at a third party or harm the interests of a third party," spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters at a regular press briefing.
The US has committed $80 million worth of infrastructure investments at five existing sites, including Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu and Lumbia Air Base in Mindanao.
Addressing the Philippine military, Mr. Marcos asked them to be vigilant as external threats to security were becoming increasingly "complex" and "unpredictable."
Hoang Nam (according to Reuters)
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