The maintenance of a military visit agreement helps the US to keep strategic advantages in the South China Sea, while the Philippines enjoys the benefits of defense cooperation.

After the recent visit from the US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin, the Philippines unexpectedly announced the complete change in the agreement of visiting forces (VFA), which is a legal basis for the US to deploy the forces.

Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte last year announced that it would end VFA after US canceled Visa, refusing to Senator Ronaldo Dela Rosa, a close allied of Duterte, entry.

US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin worked with Philippines Delfin Lorenzana office in Manila on July 30.

During the press conference with Austin on July 30, the Philippines Definition Defin Lorenzana declared the letter of notification ended VFA has been withdrawn.

According to the analyst, the unexpected move of President Duterte after a lot of noise with the United States that contains many political and strategic calculations of both sides.

According to observers, once VFA is maintained, the US military presence in the Philippines will be guaranteed and the Pentagon can spend more concentration for new forms of cooperation, typically

This decision provides clarity for the future, allowing us to plan long-term, implementing many different types of exercises and combining more capabilities, Minister Austin emphasized at the press conference with Lorenzana.

According to Gregory Poling, Director of Asian Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) belongs to the Center for Strategy and International Research (CSIS), the Philippines brings many strategic advantages to the US military.

The country is both an official military alliance with the 1951 general defense treaty, while in the middle of the two important waters with the US competition - Trung is Taiwan Strait and East Sea.

VFA is the basis for the US and the Philippines to sign an agreement to strengthen defense cooperation (EDCA) in 2014. Since the Filipino Constitution banned a long-term foreign military, this agreement is a way to circumvent the law, allowing the US

Termination of VFA will kill the EDCA agreement and disable both general defense treaty, Poling commented.

Most of Japan's import and export goods, South Korea and many US allies pass through the East Sea.

Chen Xiangmiao, expert at the Chinese Eastern Sea Research Institute, said that maintaining VFA and continuing to deploy forces at military bases in the Philippines has great significance with the US in the string control effort

This Chinese expert predicts after ensuring VFA, the US will find a significant way to expand the 5 bases they are using in the Philippines, which is the core for the US military presence in Southeast Asia.

Under President Joe Biden, the Indian Ocean - Pacific region is increasingly interested by the Pentagon.

The Biden administration also proposed a budget of $ 5.1 billion for the inaccessions in the Pacific Ocean, higher than the numbers for security goals in Europe.

Zhang Xiangjun, expert at Fuzhou University, also said that in addition to strengthening the position in the South China Sea and the region, VFA helped the US have a better preparation of the risk of crisis in Taiwan Strait.

US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin met Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte on July 29 in Manila.

If Beijing decided to unify the Taiwan Island with force in the future, the United States can coordinate regional forces more effectively and prevent China, because the Philippines is located near Taiwan, she noted.

The maintenance of VFA also gives the Philippines not less benefit.

According to expert Chen Xiangmiao, the US military support will help the Philippines Navy significantly improve capacity, while promoting the ability to ensure maritime security for Manila.

Military support from the US at this time is essential to the Philippines, in the context of Beijing is promoting unreasonable sovereignty claims in the South China Sea and putting the growing pressure with Manila, despite the stance

The Philippine army commander is increasingly concerned about the power of the navy, Chinese haven and considering VFA as well as the support of America as an important shield to prevent Beijing's fierce actions.

In March, the Philippines accused hundreds of Chinese iron shells anchoring long days near the first three-year beach located in the ware of existent islands in the Spratly Islands of Vietnam.

Rubber boat of the Philippines coastal police approaching Chinese ships at the Beach in April. Photo: Reuters.

The Philippines repeatedly sends protest resistance, but China does not withdraw the fleet.

However, experts believe that maintaining VFA is not a relationship between Manila and Washington will be silent in the coming time.

In the final national message speech in his term, Duterte also proved skepticism of security commitment from the US.

The US so far is only committed to protecting the Philippines if the warship, the Philippines public service ships are attacked, but have not yet shown their stance in case the fishermen fishermen are threatened by China.

This is particularly awkward.

President Philippines itself is also an unpredictable politician.

The Philippine President used to pay more to maintain a military agreement and the Biden administration need to provide additional Covid-19 vaccines for the country.

VFA is restored as anonymous will not occur any changes in future policies, especially with a person who is hard to guess as duterte.