US, Philippines eye more war drills, but no bases (AP)

MANILA, Philippines ? Officials say Manila and Washington are discussing how to intensify joint military exercises in the Philippines as America tries to reassert its presence in Asia.

Filipino officials say the defense talks in Washington from Thursday to Friday will not include the possibility of U.S. troops re-establishing permanent military bases in the country. That is forbidden by the 1987 Philippine constitution.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said Thursday that Washington intends to station troops in Australia, dock military ships in Singapore and intensify military exercises in the Philippines.

Filipino senators in 1991 voted to close U.S. military bases in the country. The allies later signed an accord allowing U.S. troops to join war drills in the country.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120126/ap_on_re_as/as_philippines_us_military

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