Washington [US], July 17: The US Navy will build two facilities to repair and maintain Philippine military ships in a province bordering the East Sea, according to AP on July 16.
The US Embassy announced on July 16 that the project to build the two facilities will be implemented in Oyster Bay and Quezon town in the western province of Palawan, Philippines. In a statement, the US Embassy emphasized that the goal of the two allies under this defense treaty is to maintain a "free, open and resilient Indo-Pacific region".
Palawan borders the South China Sea and is home to the Philippine military's Western Command , which deploys naval patrol boats, surveillance vessels and aircraft to protect the country's territorial interests.
Washington has no territorial claims in the South China Sea, but has repeatedly said it is obligated to defend the Philippines, America's oldest treaty ally in Asia, if Philippine forces, ships and aircraft come under armed attack, including in the South China Sea, according to AP.
The US military has built warehouses, barracks and other facilities at nine Philippine military bases where rotating US troops can stay and store weapons under a 2014 defense agreement.
Chinese officials did not immediately comment on the plan to build two U.S. Navy ship repair facilities in Palawan province, but Beijing has long accused Washington and its allies of plotting to contain China's rise, according to AP.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
