Philippine sees naval port as vital to US

SUBIC, Philippines — The Philippines said Monday a former US naval base facing the South China Sea could play a key role as a hub for American ships as Washington moves to boost its presence in the Asia Pacific.

Formerly the US military’s largest facility overseas, the ex-Subic Bay naval base north of Manila has been transformed into a freeport and tourism zone since it was shut down in 1992.

But a senior Philippine official pointed out that, with the United States planning to shift the bulk of its fleet to the Pacific by 2020 as it focuses on Asia, it would need natural deep water bays to dock its ships and submarines.

“Based on US official pronouncements, there is a strategic rebalancing (of its forces) and that means more assets, more aircraft in the Western Pacific,” said Edilberto Adan, a former general who heads the government’s Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) commission.

“There are very few ports that can accommodate naval assets and naval carriers, and one of them is Subic.

“As the US begins to implement (the shift), Subic will play an important role because it is one of the important facilities that can service their presence in the Pacific.”

Adan was talking to reporters at Subic Bay aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard, an amphibious Marine Expeditionary Unit assault ship taking part in a 10-day joint exercises with Filipino forces.

Subic, along with the nearby Clark Airbase, were key facilities for the United States, the former colonial ruler of the Philippines, during World War II.

They then provided logistical support during the Vietnam War in the 1970s, and remained of strategic importance during the Cold War.

Clark closed down in 1991 after nearby Mount Pinatubo volcano erupted, covering the base in ash and rendering the facility unusable.

Subic, which is on the northern town of Olangapo facing the South China Sea, survived the explosion.

But, amid strong nationalist sentiment and street protests calling for the US troops to leave the Philippines, the Senate voted in 1992 to end a lease agreement that allowed the bases to operate.

In November of 1992 the last US ship sailed out of Subic.

The Philippines, however, ratified a visiting forces agreement with the United States in 1999, allowing the resumption of large-scale training exercises between the allies.