The US has booked access to four additional military bases to arc around China
Key takeaways:
- US confirms deal on Philippine military bases to complete arc near China.
The US has secured access to four extra military bases in the Philippines – a critical bit of real estate. It would deliver a front seat to watch the Chinese in the South China Sea and near Taiwan.
Washington has stitched the hole in the arc with military bases:
With the agreement, Washington has stitched the hole in the arc of US alliances extending from South Korea and Japan in the north to Australia’s southern area.
The missing connection had been the Philippines, which connects two of the biggest possible flashpoints – Taiwan and the South China Sea.
The deal, which essentially changes the US’ departure from its ex-colony more than 30 years back, is no minor issue.
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“There is no happening in the South China Sea that does not need entry to the Philippines,” says Gregory B Poling, head of the Southeast Asia schedule at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.
“The US is not searching for permanent bases. It’s about locations, not bases.”
The US already had restricted entry to five areas under the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).
According to a report from Washington, new additions and expanded access n, will “let more rapid approval for humanitarian and climate-related tragedies in the Philippines, and reply to other shared challenges”, probably a veiled reference to opposing China in the region.
