MANILA (Philippines): Despite strong objections from China, the Philippine government on Monday identified four new local military zones where US military personnel, along with their equipment, will be rotated indefinitely. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved the deployment of US military personnel to four additional military bases under a 2014 defense agreement based on the long-standing treaty between the two countries.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Marcos on Wednesday approved the indefinite stay of four sites earmarked for US military bases, saying the move would strengthen Philippine coastal security. New sites identified by the president’s office include the Philippine naval base in Santa Ana city and an international airport in Lal-Lo city in northern Cagayan province.
China angry with the American base
China is angered by the marking of these two locations, as they would provide bases for US forces close to the South China Sea and Taiwan. China considers Taiwan as its part. Two other military areas are in the northern Isabela province and on Balabac Island in the western province of Palawan. Palawan is close to the South China Sea which is an important route of world trade and China claims its entire portion.
China warned the Philippines
The Chinese embassy recently warned in a statement that security cooperation with the US “will plunge the Philippines into a quagmire of geopolitical conflict and harm its economic development”.
