Philippines may allow greater US presence in latest reaction to China's rise

A Filipino father and son watch the guided-missile frigate USS Crommelin get under way after participating in Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training Philippines (CARAT) exercise in October, 2010.

The U.S. military presence in the Philippines may soon be increased, according to an article in the Washington Post.

The Post reports that the Obama administration and the Philippine government are in the early stages of negotiations on a deal that would follow other recent agreements with Australia and Singapore, which were seen as strategic moves aimed at China.

Among the options under consideration are operating Navy ships from the Philippines, deploying troops on a rotational basis and staging more frequent joint exercises. Under each of the scenarios, U.S. forces would effectively serve as guests at existing foreign bases, the Post said.

The U.S. now has about 600 Special Forces advisers in the Philippines; the last major American facility, the naval base at Subic Bay, was returned to the Philippines in 1991.

The Washington Post story about the negotiations with the Philippines.

