The Philippines says it has no plans to give the United States more access to military bases in the Southeast Asian country, putting a cap on the current total number of nine sites.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told foreign correspondents in Manila Monday that the country’s decision last year to increase the number of sites agreed upon under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement or EDCA was a response to aggressive actions by China in the South China Sea.
China has accused the Philippines of triggering confrontations by encroaching into what China asserts as its territorial waters. The deepening dispute between China and the Philippines has created issues for the Philippines’ exploration of oil and gas in the region, despite an agreement between the two nations to restart discussions on joint exploration.
However, China had previously asserted that the Philippines was “stoking the fire” by allowing the U.S. access to more bases close to potential flashpoints.
