US maintains it is not seeking permanent bases in PHL BusinessWorld Online

THE UNITED States reiterated on Tuesday (Manila time) that it is not seeking permanent military bases in the Philippines, adding that the expansion of its 2014 military pact with Manila is aimed at boosting “regional readiness.” Washington made the statement a day after Malacañang announced the locations of the four additional military sites under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which allows the US to rotate its troops in the Philippines and build and operate facilities on agreed locations for both their military forces. The expansion of EDCA would make “our training with the Philippines just more resilient,” Deputy Pentagon…