Current:Home > InvestChina says growing U.S. military presence on Philippine bases "endangering regional peace" amid Taiwan tension -TradeWise
China says growing U.S. military presence on Philippine bases "endangering regional peace" amid Taiwan tension
View
Date:2025-04-16 12:19:15
Beijing — China warned on Tuesday that Washington was "endangering regional peace" with a new deal with the Philippines that will see four additional bases be used by U.S. troops, including one near the disputed South China Sea and another not far from Taiwan.
"Out of self-interest, the U.S. maintains a zero-sum mentality and continues to strengthen its military deployment in the region," foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said. "The result will inevitably be increased military tension and endangering regional peace and stability."
- Here's what to know as U.S.-China tension soars over Taiwan
Long-time treaty allies Manila and Washington agreed in February to expand cooperation in "strategic areas" of the Philippines as they seek to counter Beijing's growing assertiveness over self-governed Taiwan and China's construction of bases in the South China Sea.
The 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, known as EDCA, gave U.S. forces access to five Philippine bases.
It was later expanded to nine, but the locations of the four new bases were withheld until Monday while the government consulted with local officials.
The four sites had been assessed by the Philippine military and deemed "suitable and mutually beneficial," the Presidential Communications Office said in a statement Monday.
The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed that the locations announced were the four new EDCA sites.
It also said in a statement it would add to the "$82 million we have already allocated toward infrastructure investments at the existing EDCA sites," without specifying by how much.
Three of the sites are in the northern Philippines, including a naval base and airport in Cagayan province and an army camp in the neighboring province of Isabela, Manila's statement said. The naval base at Cagayan's Santa Ana is about 250 miles from Taiwan. Another site will be an air base on Balabac Island, off the southern tip of Palawan Island, near the South China Sea.
Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba has publicly opposed having EDCA sites in his province for fear of jeopardizing Chinese investment and becoming a target in a conflict over Taiwan. But Philippine acting defence chief Carlito Galvez told reporters recently the government had already decided on the sites and that Mamba had agreed to "abide with the decision."
The agreement allows U.S. troops to rotate through the bases and also store defense equipment and supplies.
The United States has a long and complex history with the Philippines. They share a decades-old mutual defence treaty, but the presence of U.S. troops in the Southeast Asian country remains a sensitive issue.
The United States had two major military bases in the Philippines but they were closed in the early 1990s after growing nationalist sentiment.
U.S. troops return to the Philippines every year for joint military exercises, including Balikatan, which kicks off next week. With more than 17,000 soldiers taking part, it will be the largest yet.
The pact stalled under former president Rodrigo Duterte, who favoured China over the Philippines' former colonial master. But President Ferdinand Marcos, who succeeded Duterte in June, has adopted a more U.S.-friendly foreign policy and has sought to accelerate the implementation of the EDCA.
Marcos has insisted he will not let Beijing trample on Manila's maritime rights.
While the Philippine military is one of the weakest in Asia, the country's proximity to Taiwan and its surrounding waters would make it a key partner for the United States in the event of a conflict with China.
- In:
- Taiwan
- War
- South China Sea
- China
- Asia
veryGood! (5765)
Related
- Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
- The pause is over. As student loan payments resume, how to make sure you're prepared
- Trader Joe's recalls black bean tamales, its sixth recall since July
- Why 'Suits'? We dive into this summer's streaming hit
- Federal Spending Freeze Could Have Widespread Impact on Environment, Emergency Management
- Why 'Suits'? We dive into this summer's streaming hit
- How Freddie Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar Managed to Pull Off the Impossible With Their Romance
- Could ‘One Health’ be the Optimal Approach for Human, Animal and Environmental Health?
- Can Bill Belichick turn North Carolina into a winner? At 72, he's chasing one last high
- Three found dead at remote Rocky Mountain campsite were trying to escape society, stepsister says
Ranking
- Working Well: When holidays present rude customers, taking breaks and the high road preserve peace
- Families face waiting game in Maui back-to-school efforts
- Post Malone Proudly Shows Results of His 55-Pound Weight Loss Journey in New Selfie
- Is it best to use aluminum-free deodorant? Experts weigh in.
- Skins Game to make return to Thanksgiving week with a modern look
- Orsted delays 1st New Jersey wind farm until 2026; not ready to ‘walk away’ from project
- Miley Cyrus Says This Moment With Taylor Swift and Demi Lovato Shows She's Bisexual
- Affected by Idalia or Maui fires? Here's how to get federal aid
Recommendation
Selena Gomez's "Weird Uncles" Steve Martin and Martin Short React to Her Engagement
ESPN networks go dark on Charter Spectrum cable systems on busy night for sports
Billy Ray Cyrus and Fiancée Firerose Share Insight Into Their Beautiful Whirlwind Romance
Tori Spelling Pens Tribute to Her and Dean McDermott’s “Miracle Baby” Finn on His 11th Birthday
Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
'Super Mario Bros. Wonder' makers explain new gameplay — and the elephant in the room
Weeks after the fire, the response in Maui shifts from a sprint to a marathon
Owners of Scranton Times-Tribune, 3 other Pennsylvania dailies sell to publishing giant