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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Rebecca Ratcliffe South-east Asia correspondent, and Helen Davidson in Taipei

US seals crucial military deal with the Philippines close to China flashpoints

US defence secretary Lloyd Austin reviews honour guards in Quezon City, Metro Manila, on Thursday. The US has sealed a deal with the Philippines to expand its access to military bases there.
The deal was announced by the US defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, seen reviewing honour guards in Quezon City, Metro Manila, on Thursday. Photograph: Rolex dela Peña/AFP/Getty Images

The Philippines has granted the US expanded access to its military bases, greatly enhancing Washington’s presence in the region at a time of growing concern about Chinese aggression.

Washington would be given access to four additional military bases in “strategic areas of the country”, the Philippines’ Department of National Defense said on Thursday, without specifying the locations.

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