Philippines again suspends scrapping of VFA troop pact with US, amid South China Sea tensions, Covid-19 vaccine donations

The Philippines has for the third time suspended a decision to scrap a two-decade-old Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States, its foreign minister said on Monday, amid a territorial dispute with China in the South China Sea.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin said the suspension would be for a further six months while President Rodrigo Duterte “studies, and both sides further address his concerns regarding, particular aspects of the agreement”.

The Philippines is a treaty ally of the United States, and several military agreements are dependent on the VFA, which provides rules for the rotation of thousands of US troops in and out of the Philippines for war drills and exercises.
Duterte last year notified Washington he was cancelling the deal, which came amid outrage over a senator and ally being denied a US visa. The pact would have ended in August had Duterte not extended its life for a third time.

https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3137270/philippines-again-suspends-scrapping-vfa-troop-pact-us