Marcos says 4 more military bases to be located in Philippines

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.Marcos Jr. said on Wednesday that four new military bases under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement EDCA with the United States would be located in various parts of the Philippines, including a province facing the South China Sea.

In the last month, Marcos granted the United States access to four sites, on top of five existing locations under the 2014 EDCA, which comes amid China's increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea and towards self-ruled Taiwan.

There are four additional sites scattered around the Philippines -- there are some in the north, there are some around Palawan, there are some further south, Marcos told reporters on the sidelines of the Philippine army's founding anniversary.

EDCA allows the U.S. access to Philippine bases for joint training, pre-positioning equipment, and building of facilities such as runways, fuel storage and military housing, but it is not a permanent presence.

Marcos said that the Philippines and the United States would announce the locations of the bases soon, which would boost the country's ability to defend the eastern side of its largest island, Luzon.

Luzon is the closest Philippine island to Taiwan.

A former Philippine military chief said the United States had asked for access to bases in Isabela, Zambales and Cagayan, all on the island of Luzon, facing north to Taiwan, and on Palawan in southwest, near the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.

Some leaders of local governments oppose Marcos decision, fearing that they would be dragged into a conflict between the United States and China over Taiwan.

Marcos said his government discussed the importance of expanded U.S. access and why it will be good for their provinces. Washington has committed $80 million for infrastructure investments at the five existing sites - the Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, the Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu and Lumbia Air Base in Mindanao.

Marcos told Philippine troops to be vigilant because the external threat to his country's security was becoming more complex and unpredictable. Marcos said that they should be vigilant against elements that will undermine our hard-earned peace, strengthen relationships with counterparts overseas, and continue to improve relations with your counterparts overseas.

Marcos said he was aware of an emerging threat to his country's territory, which would require adjustments in our strategy, even though he didn't give specifics. The external security environment is becoming more complex. Marcos said that it is becoming more unpredictable.