The Philippines will provide the United States with expanded access to its military bases, the two countries said on Thursday, providing US forces with a greater strategic footing on the south-eastern edge of the South China Sea close to self-ruled Taiwan.The newly announced deal will give the US access to four more locations under an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) dating to 2014, allowing the US to rotate troops to a total of nine bases throughout the Philippines.The US has stepped up efforts to expand its Indo-Pacific security options in recent months, amid mounting concerns over China's aggressive territorial posturing throughout the region.
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