Wary Of China, Philippines Lays Down Welcome Mat For Greater US Military Presence
MANILA - The Philippines said Friday it would accept a greater US military presence on its territory to help defend its interests and ensure peace in the region, amid rising tensions with China.
As US and Philippine officials opened talks in Washington for expanded military cooperation that's seen to provide counter-balance to China's growing presence in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said the Philippines wanted more joint exercises with its former colonial ruler and to have a greater number of US troops rotating through the Southeast Asian country.
"It is to our definite advantage to be exploring how to maximise our treaty alliance with the United States in ways that would be mutually acceptable and beneficial," del Rosario said in a statement.
