Despite criticisms from media and other sectors that President Barack Obama’s “pivot to Asia” was more of an illusion than a dream, White House officials said the recent 8-day trip by the President to four Asian countries could be seen as the start of the Pentagon’s heavy presence and attention in the Asia-Pacific region.

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The defense pact recently signed by the US and the Philippines is seen by defense analysts as a major step forward for the Pentagon’s presence in the region as well as in retaining its focus on the goings-on in the South China Sea where China has been embroiled with Japan and the Philippines over disputed islands.

Analysts pointed out that although the US policy of Pivot to Asia became a major shift in its defense policy in 2011, the 10-year pact with the Philippines served to jumpstart its intention to make its presence felt in the region.

Earlier, critics said that although the Pivot to Asia was a bold and compelling concept, the United States did not back it up with military strength. With the 10-year defense pact with the Philippines, the United States has proven the skeptics wrong.

The agreement allows US military servicemen to rotate through the Philippines and use its bases and other facilities under the control of the Philippines during trainings and military exercises between the two nations.

Critics, however, questioned the content of the agreement which they said were being withheld by the officials. Copies of the agreement have yet to be released. Details on the number of troops to be deployed and the facilities to be used have yet to be worked out.

Analysts said Monday that the 10-year pact between the United States and the Philippines will most likely result in an increase in US weapons sale amid China’s disputes with Japan and the Philippines over islands in the South and East China Sea.

Loren Thompson, a defense analyst, said the deal was forged to counter China's aggressive encroachments on South China Sea territories being claimed by the Philippines.

Thompson said that Manila needs weapons in order to effectively secure its maritime sovereignty and bolster its claim over the contested islands.

Thompson said weapons that the Philippines must have are P8-A maritime patrol aircraft, conventional munitions such as the Standard Missile-4 and small warships.

US arms sale are projected to have a modest increase as industry experts are looking into events in Asia and expressing optimism that the Philippines will negotiate soon over purchase of  the weapons.

However, Byron Callan, an analyst with Capital Alpha Partners, said that US arms sales can be limited in scope given the Philippines' defense budget of US$2.2 billion in 2013.