Washington is interested in furthering military ties with the Philippines due to the country's strategic location near both Southeast Asian potential terrorist and militant groups and China.

Manila is not the only Asian target of renewed U.S. interest, however. Washington also is strengthening its military ties with Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, among others.

Adm. Dennis Blair, former commander in chief of the U.S. Pacific Command, was a strong supporter of increased U.S. military cooperation in Asia, and he worked to establish a network of facilities where U.S. forces could train, visit, resupply and rest during deployments in the region. This program was given added impetus by the events of Sept. 11, and Blair's successor has maintained that momentum.

While the U.S. military does not have a traditional "base" in the Philippines, it is using a series of joint training exercises to give it a relatively permanent position there. For instance, even when the already extended Balikatan 02-1 exercises ended on July 31, the 160 U.S. forces deployed earlier in the year to help train Philippine troops in counterterrorism tactics remained in the country, and they will stay there until October when the next round of bilateral exercises kicks off, according to U.S. military spokesman Maj. Richard Sater.