US Navy to build boat maintenance facility in Palawan

The United States Navy plans to build a boat maintenance facility in Palawan, Philippines, at Naval Detachment Oyster Bay, to provide repair and maintenance services for Philippine military watercraft.

This facility will also include two multi-purpose rooms for storage or conferences, and the U.S. Embassy clarified it is not a military base but a project to support the Philippine military's operational needs.

The Philippine government has approved the project, which aligns with the broader US-Philippine alliance aimed at enhancing Indo-Pacific security and is rooted in the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty.

The construction, currently in the solicitation phase, is proceeding amidst ongoing tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) supports the initiative, with Navy spokesperson Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad stating that the AFP welcomes any effort by partner nations to increase its capability for operations and sustainment.

Trinidad added that any actions by Philippine allies are covered by appropriate agreements between the countries, and he did not wish to speculate on potential reactions from China.