Austin in Philippines to discuss larger US military presence

In this handout photo provided by the Command Public Information Office, Western Mindanao Command, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III, second from right, stands beside Western Mindanao Commander Lt. Gen. Roy Galido as he visits Camp Don Basilio Navarro in Zamboanga province, southern Philippines on Wednesday. Austin is in the Philippines for talks about deploying U.S. forces and weapons in more Philippine military camps to ramp up deterrence against China's increasingly aggressive actions toward Taiwan and in the disputed South China Sea. (Command Public Information Office, Western Mindanao Command via AP)

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III, second from left, greets Philippine military chief General Andres Centino, second from right, and Western Mindanao Commander Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, right, as he visits Camp Don Basilio Navarro in Zamboanga province, southern Philippines on Wednesday. (Command Public Information Office, Western Mindanao Command /via AP)

In this handout photo provided by the Command Public Information Office, Western Mindanao Command, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III arrives in Zamboanga province, southern Philippines on Wednesday. Austin is in the Philippines for talks about deploying U.S. forces and weapons in more Philippine military camps to ramp up deterrence against China's increasingly aggressive actions toward Taiwan and in the disputed South China Sea. (Command Public Information Office, Western Mindanao Command via AP)

In this handout photo provided by the Command Public Information Office, Western Mindanao Command, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III, right, greets Western Mindanao Commander Lt. Gen. Roy Galido as he visits Camp Don Basilio Navarro in Zamboanga province, southern Philippines on Wednesday. Austin is in the Philippines for talks about deploying U.S. forces and weapons in more Philippine military camps to ramp up deterrence against China's increasingly aggressive actions toward Taiwan and in the disputed South China Sea. (Command Public Information Office, Western Mindanao Command via AP)

MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was in the Philippines on Wednesday for talks about deploying U.S. forces and weapons in more Philippine military camps to ramp up deterrence against China’s increasingly aggressive actions toward Taiwan and in the disputed South China Sea.