Philippines defends decision to give US access to new military bases

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visits the Philippines to promote defense cooperation in February 2023. Photo: Jakarta Post.

The Philippines' decision to allow the US expanded access to its military bases is to improve its defense capabilities against threats, not to prepare for war, Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez said, responding to concerns after the Philippines granted the US access to four more military base locations, in addition to the current five locations under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) since 2014.

Philippine Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez stressed that the regional geopolitical situation is increasingly unstable, the Philippines wants to strengthen its defense capabilities against contingencies and security threats. Mr. Galvez also stressed that the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement and the Philippines' defense partnerships "are not intended to be aggressive."

China has previously said that the US's increased access to Philippine military bases has undermined regional stability and increased tensions. The Philippines has not yet revealed specific locations for the US to access, saying they are in the process of researching.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs also said the government is in the process of drafting guidelines for joint maritime activities in the South China Sea, including joint patrols with regional partners. The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs has not yet named which regional partners will participate in possible joint patrols between the Philippines and the United States, but Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez previously mentioned the possibility of Australia and Japan participating.

Commenting on this information, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Hae Kyong Yu said: Australia has participated in discussions on combined maritime activities in international waters. Australia wishes to work closely with partners to support international law such as the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea; Australia also benefits when parties comply with free and open seas. However, Ambassador Hae Kyong Yu said that Australia has not yet made a decision on this issue.

The Japanese Embassy in Manila said there are currently no formal discussions on the possibility of joining joint patrols. However, Japan will promote cooperation with partners to enhance maritime domain awareness and maritime law enforcement in the Indo-Pacific.

At the Senate hearing, Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo also said that in terms of partnerships in ASEAN, the Philippines is discussing with Singapore, Vietnam and other countries in the region with the aim of enhancing security, not only military defense but also economic security./.