In a move that could further strengthen the United States’ presence in the Asia-Pacific region, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has secured a deal to build bases around China. This comes as the US has announced military base sharing agreements in the Philippines and granted greater access to bases in the country amid China’s growing influence in the region.

On Tuesday, Blinken met with Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte in Manila to discuss the US military presence in the country. According to the US State Department, the two leaders discussed the importance of the US-Philippines alliance and the need for a “larger US military presence” in the region.

The US has also been granted greater access to military bases in the Philippines, with the Philippines set to allow wider US access to military bases. This could help the US complete an arc of bases around China, as it seeks to counter China’s growing presence in the region.

The US has been in talks with the Philippines since last year to build a base in the country, but the discussions have been complicated by the Duterte government’s close ties with China. However, the US has now secured a deal to build bases around China, which could further strengthen its presence in the region.

This move is likely to be seen as a sign of US commitment to the region, as it seeks to counter China’s growing influence in the Asia-Pacific region.