US-Philippines deal on military bases 'jeopardizes' regional peace, Beijing says

China lambasted on Tuesday April 4 an agreement authorizing the United States' access to four new military bases in the Philippines, a text according to it likely to "

 ".

“

 the press Mao Ning, a spokeswoman for Chinese diplomacy.

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 The Philippines announced on Monday (April 3) the locations of the four new military bases it is making available to the United States, including one near the disputed South China Sea and another near Taiwan.

These four locations are considered "

 ," the Philippine presidential press office said in a statement.

Military bases and equipment

Washington and Manila have been security allies for decades, including through a 2014 defense treaty and pact, known as the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which allows U.S. soldiers to to access five Philippine bases but also to store military equipment there.

This number was increased to nine in February but the locations of the four additional bases had not been specified.

Washington is seeking to tighten its ties with Manila, which have been strained in recent years.

The previous Philippine president, Rodrigo Duterte, had preferred to turn to China to the detriment of the United States, a former colonial power.

But the new Philippine government of Ferdinand Marcos Jr wants to strengthen its partnership with Washington, pushed by Beijing's claims with regard to Taiwan and the construction of Chinese bases in the South China Sea.

Beijing claims sovereignty over nearly all of the South China Sea.

The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei also claim areas in these waters.

China considers the island of Taiwan to be one of its provinces, which it has yet to successfully reunify with the rest of its territory since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949.