US, Philippines agree on larger American military presence

By JIM GOMEZ
Associated Press

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The United States and the Philippines have announced an agreement to expand America’s military presence in the Southeast Asian country, with U.S. forces granted access to four more Philippine military camps, effectively giving Washington new ground to ramp up deterrence against China. The agreement between the longtime treaty allies under a 2014 defense pact was made public on Thursday during the visit of U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, who has led efforts to strengthen America’s security alliances in Asia amid China’s increasingly assertive actions toward Taiwan and in the disputed South China Sea. In a televised news conference, Austin gave assurances of U.S. military support.