Filipino court says US-Philippines military agreement is legal

World Today

After putting it off twice, the Philippines’ Supreme Court finally decided to legalize the defense agreement signed in 2014 with the U.S.

The final vote was an overwhelming yes.

CCTV’s Barnaby Lo reports from Subic Bay in the Philippine.
Follow Barnaby Lo ‏on Twitter @barnabychuck

The territorial dispute in the South China Sea is seen as one of the driving forces in the Philippines and the United States forging closer military ties. The island nation’s efforts to strengthen its armed forces rely heavily on foreign aid mainly from the U.S. Despite this, anti-U.S. activists insist the agreement doesn’t benefit the country and allows for what they say is the illegal establishment of bases.

Under the agreement, the United States can occupy and can use existing military facilities. They can even build new facilities, new runways, new ports and new buildings that would be for U.S. military use.