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April 11, 2024

Biden Hosts Japanese & Filipino Leaders as U.S. Expands Military Presence Near China
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President Biden is hosting a trilateral summit today at the White House
with Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Japanese Prime
Minister Fumio Kishida as the U.S. moves to expand its military presence
around the South China Sea. Earlier today, protesters gathered in Manila
to denounce the expanding U.S. presence in the Philippines.

Luke Espíritu: "We are being used as pawns by the Americans. They are
bringing their military here through the nine Enhanced Defense
Cooperation Agreement bases, which they are planning to increase to 22.
They are concentrating their machinery here, their bombs, aircraft, all
focused on China. What does this mean? They will bring danger to the
Philippines and make us a target."

In other news from the region, the U.S. has announced plans to expand a
Navy base in Papua New Guinea, where China has also attempted to
increase its footprint.


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