US Military Expansion in Philippines: Historical Context and Strategic Implications The Philippines has shifted from neutrality toward US alignment, marking a significant reversal from the 2016-2022 Duterte era when Manila moved closer to Beijing. Current Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) provisions grant US forces access to nine Philippine military bases—the highest number since the Cold War—positioning American capabilities within 500 nautical miles of Taiwan and contested South China Sea territories. Historically, the US maintained a major presence until 1992 when Subic Bay and Clark Air Base closed; this new arrangement represents a strategic reassertion in response to China's militarization of artificial islands and aggressive territorial claims. In the broader Indo-Pacific competition, the Philippines serves as a critical node in the First Island Chain—controlling chokepoints through which 40% of global maritime trade flows—making this basing arrangement pivotal to maintaining freedom of navigation and preventing Chinese hegemony over regional sea lanes.