Philippines to open new base facing South China Sea

According to the Philippine Air Force’s tender documents and development plan, a new forward base will be built at Subic Bay International Airport to support reconnaissance and strike aircraft. The project marks a return and a major reinvestment by the Philippines in Subic Bay, a former US naval base.

Philippine and US forces participate in joint military exercises in Subic Bay (Philippines) in July 2023.

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The new airport’s proximity to Scarborough Shoal and the South China Sea is the rationale for building a military base in Subic Bay, according to Naval News , citing Philippine Air Force documents on the project. The plan is for the new airport in Subic to serve as a support point for both land and sea operations to support and project forces beyond Manila’s territorial waters and exclusive economic zone.

The project is estimated to cost around $2.5 million and includes only the initial costs of housing and security upgrades. In the long term, the Philippines plans to build a dedicated maritime patrol and drone base in Subic Bay, based on the goals of the Department of National Defense’s 2020-2025 Defense Planning Guidelines.

Mr. Joshua Bernard Espena, Vice President of the International Security and Development Cooperation (Philippines) think tank, said that the new base in Subic Bay is a significant leap forward in the Philippine military's efforts to develop joint operations.

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"This move is fully in line with the Philippines' Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC) to fill the gaps in defending a larger archipelago. The key is to respond quickly and in coordination, thus making Subic a traditional location for the Philippine Air Force," Espena said.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/philippines-se-mo-can-cu-moi-huong-ra-bien-dong-185240613121620147.htm