The United States Navy is set to build two facilities for the repair and maintenance of Philippine military vessels in Palawan province, an area facing the contested South China Sea where recent maritime confrontations with China have escalated.
According to a statement released Wednesday by the U.S. Embassy, the new facilities will be located in Oyster Bay and Quezon town, both in western Palawan. The embassy emphasized that the initiative reflects the shared commitment between the U.S. and the Philippines to uphold a “free, open, and resilient Indo-Pacific region.”
Palawan lies directly opposite the South China Sea, which is at the center of a long-standing territorial dispute. China claims nearly the entire waterway, a stance that has led to frequent tensions with several neighboring countries, including Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. The island province also hosts the headquarters of the Philippine military’s Western Command, which is tasked with defending the nation’s maritime borders using naval patrol ships, surveillance assets, and aircraft.
While the United States holds no territorial claims in the region, it has consistently reiterated its defense commitments to the Philippines, its oldest treaty ally in Asia. Under the terms of their mutual defense pact, Washington is bound to assist if Philippine military forces, vessels, or aircraft are attacked — including in the South China Sea.
Separately, the U.S. has already constructed military infrastructure — such as barracks, storage facilities, and warehouses — at nine Philippine bases under a 2014 defense agreement. These installations support rotational deployments of American troops and allow for the prepositioning of military equipment.
Chinese authorities have not yet responded publicly to the announcement regarding the Palawan facilities. However, Beijing has repeatedly accused Washington of working with regional allies to curb China’s influence and military rise.
This latest development underscores the growing strategic partnership between the U.S. and the Philippines amid rising tensions and shifting alliances in the Indo-Pacific region.
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