By Prashanth Parameswaran
Manila is making progress on a new facility.
As I have written earlier, the Philippines has been in the process of constructing a new naval base opposite the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea (See: “A ‘New’ Philippine Navy Base in the South China Sea?”).
Though Philippine armed forces chief General Gregorio Catapang, Jr. recently indicated that the base was a “top priority,” he also admitted that construction had been delayed by funding bottlenecks and the infrastructure there was still very much a work in progress.
On June 2, IHS Jane’s reported that the Philippine Navy (PN) had released images confirming that it had completed the first major access road to a naval pier being built there – a clear sign of progress. According to the PN, the road, which is part of what is described as a three-year development to make Oyster Bay a major naval anchorage for the Philippines as well as visiting allies, would now allow the construction of the naval pier to move ahead at a greater pace.
Read the full story at The Diplomat