US, Philippines agree on locations covered by defense pact

WASHINGTON – The U.S. and the Philippines announced Friday five locations where American forces will have access under a new defense pact, including one facing disputed islands in the South China Sea.

The announcement came at strategic talks in Washington, where the allies reiterated their opposition to the militarization of outposts in those waters, where six Asian governments have competing claims.

China has built artificial islands with airstrips and military facilities as it asserts its claim to virtually all the South China Sea, including land features claimed by the Philippines.

Another of the five Philippine military bases where the U.S. will have access is on southern Mindanao island, where the U.S. is concerned about the presence of Muslim extremist groups.

The 10-year defense pact was signed by U.S. and Philippine officials in 2014, but it only got the green light this January after the Philippine Supreme Court ruled it was constitutional. It is a key part of the Obama administration effort to reassert its presence in Asia.

Philip Goldberg, the U.S. ambassador to the Philippines, said the pact would allow the U.S. to rotate more forces and military assets through that country on a basis of mutual agreement with Manila. It can also conduct construction and position supplies, including for humanitarian relief.

Goldberg said the U.S. is not establishing its own bases as it had in the Philippines until 1992. They were closed amid a tide of Philippine nationalism.

Senior U.S. defense official Amy Searight said Defense Secretary Ash Carter would travel to the Philippines in April to discuss implementation of the pact.

Goldberg said he could not set a date for when U.S. forces would be deployed but he expected movement of supplies and personnel to begin "very soon."

U.S. Defense Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino said the Philippines was a "reliable partner" and was looking forward to working with the U.S. to develop the agreed-upon locations.

The implementation of the defense pact comes at a time of heightened tension in the South China Sea and will be opposed by China, which views the increased U.S. presence in the region as an attempt at containment.

The locations are at Antonio Bautista Air Base on western Palawan island, which faces the hotly disputed Spratly islands in the South China Sea; Lumbia Air Base on southern Mindanao island; Basa Air Base and Fort Magsaysay, north of the capital, Manila; and Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base on Cebu.

U.S. officials say the pact will also enable it help train the Philippines' military but isn't aimed at China.

"It is not aimed at any country, but rather at improving our bilateral relationship" with the Philippines and boosting the U.S. rebalance to Asia, Goldberg told reporters.

Searight said the administration has notified Congress that it intends to spend $50 million on boosting the maritime security of Southeast Asian nations, and most would go to the Philippines.

The Philippines is far outgunned by China, and has sought legal recourse as well as bolstering its security.

By midyear, an international tribunal is expected to rule on a case brought by the Philippines that challenges the legal basis of China's sweeping claims in the South China Sea.

Daniel Russel, top U.S. diplomat for East Asia, said that would be a critical moment for "rules-based" future of the region, although China says it is not bound by the arbitration.