TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Army has denied a news report claiming that it is providing funds to upgrade US bases in the Philippines.

A UDN report said the US requested Taiwan's help in building up US bases in the Philippines. It also claimed that Army Commander General Lu Kun-hsiu (呂坤修) made a secret visit to the Philippines last month. 

The Army Command Headquarters said the report was false and urged media outlets not to cite unverified information or speculate about foreign exchanges to avoid misleading the public and creating difficulties for future international exchanges, CNA reported.

Taiwan and the Philippines have gradually increased coast guard and military exchanges over the last year. Filipino academics participated in closed-door forums with top Taiwanese generals in early 2025 to better understand Taiwan’s approach to security, according to Taiwanese and Philippine government officials and advisers.

The Philippine Coast Guard has also conducted patrols with their Taiwanese counterparts in the Bashi Channel. In June, Taiwan sent navy and marine corps personnel to observe the Kamandag joint exercise led by the US and Philippine marines, officials said.

The Taiwanese officers also participated in tabletop planning, according to a government adviser. “Our security and military cooperation with the Philippines is going to get closer and closer,” he said.

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said in July that “any force projection of China within our area is a matter of extreme concern.”  

“It would be hiding from the obvious to say that Taiwan’s security will not affect us,” he added.