South China Sea: US, Philippine foreign, defense officials to hold meeting following expansion of defense pact

The foreign and defense officials of the United States and the Philippines are set to meet in Washington next week. The meeting follows the recent expansion of the two countries’ enhanced defense agreement.

The US State Department announced on Wednesday that the top US and Philippine foreign and defense officials would be meeting in Washington on Tuesday next week. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin will be meeting with Philippine foreign affairs secretary Enrique Manalo and defense secretary Carlito Galvez. The upcoming meeting between the officials follows the expansion of the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between the longtime allies.

The upcoming meeting also follows Manila’s announcement on Monday, identifying the four additional military bases that the US is granted access to under EDCA. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced the expansion of the deal back in February, but the identification of the sites was delayed due to opposition from some local government leaders over concerns of getting involved in a potential conflict between the US and China.

The access to the additional sites comes at a time of concern over China’s activities in the contested South China Sea.

China claims the majority of the South China Sea, angering the surrounding countries that have their own overlapping claims, including the Philippines. An international tribunal in 2016 ruled against China’s claims, saying that they had no basis in international law, which Beijing has ignored. China has since sought to assert control over the body of water by building artificial islands to serve as its military outposts.

On Wednesday, the Japanese government unveiled its Overseas Security Assistance, an aid program that would provide financial assistance to countries to boost their defenses. OSA is separate from Japan’s existing Overseas Development Assistance and comes as Tokyo significantly increased its defense spending, its largest military buildup in a shift in stance since post-World War II.

Japan is reportedly considering providing radars to the Philippines to help Manila monitor Chinese activity in the disputed waters, according to the Yomiuri news outlet. Tokyo has also been increasing its communications with developing countries in an effort to counter China’s growing influence in the region.