As China's maritime advances intensify in the South China Sea, the Philippines will begin a project to repair the runway of an air base by its ally, the United States, and the implementation of the military agreement between the two countries that allows the US military to use the base will begin in earnest.

In 5, the Philippines signed a military agreement that allowed the U.S. military to use five bases in the country on the condition that its ally, the United States, would bear the burden of infrastructure development, but since then, relations between the two countries have been strained under the previous Duterte administration, so implementation has not progressed.

Against this backdrop, at the Basa Air Force Base in the northern Philippines, a project to repair a 2014,20-meter-long runway that had deteriorated over time began on the 2800th with U.S. funds.

The Basa Air Base project accounts for 5% of the total funds invested in the five bases, and the implementation of the military agreement between the two countries will be in full swing.

Speaking at the commemoration ceremony, Defense Minister Gálvez said, "Although it was delayed by about eight years, the implementation of the agreement is in full swing, and I hope that the United States will consider more projects."

The Marcos administration, which took office last year, has been upgrading military facilities amid China's increased maritime advances in the South China Sea, and in February it agreed to increase the number of bases available to the U.S. military to four more to a total of nine.

On the other hand, the United States is also believed to aim to increase its deterrence against China in preparation for a Taiwan emergency by increasing the number of bases in the Philippines.

US Defense Secretary Austin condemns China's move

The U.S. Department of Defense announced on the 20th that Secretary of Defense Austin held a telephone conversation with Philippine Defense Minister Gálvez.

Both sides welcomed the start of a runway repair project at the Basa Air Base and condemned China's move to obstruct the rights of other countries to operate legally in the South China Sea.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense, in the South China Sea, in February, a Chinese coast guard vessel irradiated a Philippine patrol boat with laser beams around a reef in the Spratly Islands, English name Spratly Islands, and in early March, more than 2 ships, including Chinese Navy ships, were sent to Pag-asa Island, which is effectively controlled by the Philippines. It was confirmed in the waters around the English name Titu Island.

Secretary Austin reiterated that armed attacks on Philippine government vessels and others in the South China Sea are within the scope of the Mutual Defense Treaty, which stipulates U.S. defense obligations, and rebuked China in strengthening its maritime advances.