Philippines Opens Facilities Near Taiwan and South China Sea for US Use

The United States, which previously had access to four military bases in the Philippines, will now be able to utilize facilities located near Taiwan and the South China Sea, Channel NewsAsia reported on Monday, citing the Philippine president's office.

The publication reminds that Washington and Manila have reached an agreement to grant the US armed forces access to four additional Philippine military facilities, bringing the total number to nine. However, Philippine authorities did not disclose the locations of these four bases until Monday.

Three sites are located in the northern part of the country: a naval base and airport in Cagayan province, along with an army camp in the neighboring Isabela province. Notably, the port is situated approximately 400 km from Taiwan. Another base is located on Palawan's Palabac Island, at the southern tip of the island, which is surrounded by the South China Sea.

US military personnel will have the right to station weapons and ammunition at these facilities, as well as to be present there, but on a rotational basis. Manila has also noted that the bases may be used for rescue and humanitarian missions in cases of natural disasters.

China and ASEAN members—Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam—have territorial disputes over the Spratly archipelago (known as Nansha in Chinese) located in the South China Sea. Meanwhile, the US is allied with certain regional powers and upholds their stance in disputes with China.

In April, the largest US-Philippines military exercise ever is set to take place at the Philippines' largest military base on Luzon Island, involving 17,600 personnel, including approximately 12,000 Americans.