MANILA, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- A Philippine official said the country's "territorial integrity" will be secure as talks with U.S. officials began Wednesday to hike America's defense presence.
"We would like to assure the Filipino people that your government is committed to defending and protecting the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the Philippine Star quoted Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Carlos Sorreta as saying.
Sorreta is the head of a four-member team negotiating with a team of U.S. Defense and State Department officials over Washington's proposal to expand its military presence on the islands.
If an agreement is reached, U.S. military forces would be allowed on Philippine bases and train jointly with Philippine military units.
The United States has not had any military bases in the Philippines since 1992.
The Communist Party of the Philippines said it was opposed to the proposal, calling it a "masquerade" that would allow the United States to use the Philippines as a military base.
In a statement, the CPP said the talks "will likely result in allowing the U.S. to have exclusive access to certain facilities, which is a step further in formally allowing the return of the U.S. military bases."
Philippine officials deny the agreement would allow the United States to have a permanent presence or that new U.S. bases would be established.
