I guess this was announced back in October of last year but I had missed it then and just seeing it today. I thought it well to discuss because it had been a massive mistake to allow the Philippines government to have forced us out 30+ years ago when you consider that we are signatories to defending their nation.
Not a big fan of the USN but happy to see they are doing something smart for once.
I think you’ll find it was the Philippines volcano (Mt Pinatubo) that shut it all down. Then PH gov renegotiated - no deal.
Here’s the link…
U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay - Wikipedia
I believe there was very strong anti US sentiment in the Philippines at the time which led to the government to demand much higher payment for basing rights and thenthe Philippines Senate voting to just make the US leave but regardless, everyone can see with China wanting hegemony over all of East Asia that it is in the interest of Manila to get the USN back there asap.
With Subic, Naha, Apra, Sasebo and Yokosuka the USA will have a very well established foundation of bases for our fleet to operate out of should push come to shove with the PLAN in the waters around Taiwan.
US Navy and MSC are still very frequent, if not regularly scheduled visitors to Subic Bay. They even do dry-docks there. It’s not like they’ve disappeared and are now going back.
Yes, of course but it hasn’t functioned as a forward base for 34 years now. The ladies of Olongopo City I am sure are thrilled with this news.
I guess a good topic for discussion is if China really is gearing up to invade Taiwan and if so why precisely? The are ready are on track to become the dominate economy on the planet (I say they already are) and short of the advanced semiconductors coming from Taiwan what would they gain that they don’t already have? Yes, there is the longstanding butt hurt the PRC feels dating back for close to 80 odd years but if one looks at this objectively, any war China might start will be contested not just by the USA but also Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam, etc… all of which happen to live next door and don’t want Xi Jinping controlling all the trade through the entirety of East Asia.
If one combines the entire US military along with the militaries of these other nations China is at a numerical disadvantage except for personnel. The PLAN has been building a whole lot of landing craft but has no experience performing an amphibious operation just as they have never run combat carrier ops before. The USN may be short of small surface combatants, but we have a plenty of carriers, ddgs and subs so can make the waters around Taiwan (especially the Taiwan Straits) pretty damned hot for the PLAN to try to cross in mass.
I myself believe China is posturing in appearing to be a threat to invade Taiwan but what are they hoping to achieve in doing this?
In that case they have a good guide in how (not?) to do it with the ongoing revival of the Monroe Doctrine 2.0 (aka the “Donroe Doctrine”)
