Manila, February 2 , 2023(AseanAll)--The United States and the Philippines reached an agreement that the Philippines would allow American troops to enter four other military bases in the Philippines. The move is obviously to deter China. The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines issued a statement expressing strong dissatisfaction.
On February 2, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. in Manila.
(Photo：Philippine Presidential Office)
The two sides subsequently announced an agreement to increase the number of bases available to the United States in the Philippines by 4, and the total number to 9.
Austin said at the press conference that the two sides discussed concrete actions to resolve the destabilizing activities in the waters around the Philippines.
(Photo：U.S. DepartmentofDefense)
He said that the US-Philippines alliance made the two democratic countries more secure and helped to uphold a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
Marcos welcomed the agreement ,saying it seems to him that the future of the Philippines and the Asia-Pacific will always have to involve the United States..He said that such partnership can only benefit both countries.
China reacted strongly to the agreement.
At a regular press conference on February 2, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said that defense and security cooperation between countries needs to be conducive to regional peace and stability and not targeted at or harmful to the interests of any third party.
(Photo：Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China)
Mao said that the United States continued military buildup in the Asia-Pacific region for its own benefits, thereby raising regional tensions and harming peace and stability.
The spokesman said that regional countries need to remain vigilant and avoid being coerced or used by the US.
On the same evening, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines issued a statement expressing dissatisfaction with the move of the United States and the Philippines.
The statement of the Chinese Embassy first stated that peace and development are the themes of the day. China holds that defense and security cooperation between countries should be conducive to regional peace and stability, not target against any third party, even less to harm the interests of a third party.
The statement pointed out that the United States, out of its self interests and zero-sum game mentality, continues to step up military posture in this region. Its actions escalate regional tension and undermine regional peace and stability.
The statement accused the US Defense Secretary of his words and actions against China. "During his visit, U.S. Secretary of Defense smeared China on the issue of South China Sea to advance the anti-China political agenda of the US， "the statement said.
Such moves contradict the common aspiration of regional countries to seek peace, cooperation and development, and run counter to the common aspiration of the Filipino people to pursue sound economic recovery and a better life in cooperation with China, according to the statement.
The statement said that It is hoped that the Philippine side stays vigilant and resists from being taken advantage of and dragged into trouble waters.
Not long ago, the President of the Philippines visited China from January 3 to 5. The two sides made a joint statement that they would further strengthen the China-Philippines relationship of Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation under the new circumstances, as close neighbors, kin and partners that help and understand each other towards win-win results through mutually beneficial cooperation, so as to bring the bilateral relations to new heights. The two heads of state had an in-depth and candid exchange of views on the situation in the South China Sea, emphasized that maritime issues do not comprise the sum-total of relations between the two countries and agreed to appropriately manage differences through peaceful means.
(Photo：Philippine Presidential Office)
