U.S.-China Rivalry May Shape 2023 For The World

The Philippines has allowed the U.S. to boost its military presence by giving Washington access to four more bases in the country. The move is part of Washington’s attempts to gain strategic advantage over China in the region. China will maintain its presence in the South China Sea but will carefully weigh any further activity to avoid aggravating tensions with the Philippines – even as Manila allows Washington greater military access to its soil, according to analysts. The assessment follows an announcement by U.S. and Philippine defense officials on Thursday that Manila will give U.S. forces access to four more…