Kerry in Philippines to propel troop deal as China row simmers

US Secretary of State John Kerry disembarks from a plane at Manila's international airport, Manila, the Philippines, 17 December 2013. Kerry will meet President Benigno Aquino to discuss economic and security cooperation between the Philippines and the US as well as humanitarian assistance on Filipinos affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan. EPA

MANILA( AFP) - Secretary of State John Kerry is due to arrive in the Philippines Tuesday for a two-day trip that could fast-track a deal on expanding the US military presence as a territorial dispute simmers with China.

"Kerry's visit can be expected to act as a catalyst for change," John Blaxland, a security and defence analyst at Australia National University's College of Asia and the Pacific, told AFP.