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US to build Philippines boat hub for South China Sea edge, ‘low-footprint' deterrence

US to build Philippines boat hub for South China Sea edge, ‘low-footprint' deterrence

A discreet but strategically significant US-funded boat maintenance hub in the western
Philippines is poised to strengthen Manila's maritime presence in the contested
South China Sea while avoiding raising the risk of political escalation.
The new facility in Quezon, a coastal town on Palawan Island less than 260km (162 miles) from the flashpoint Second Thomas Shoal, could enable the Philippine Navy to maintain a more persistent and responsive posture amid rising tensions with China, in what analysts say is part of Washington's broader push for 'low-footprint' deterrence in the region.
Designed to service and deploy small Philippine naval craft, the hub's proximity to disputed waters is seen as an advantage. 'That proximity matters operationally – it reduces transit time and enhances the credibility of Manila's maritime presence,' said Sylwia Monika Gorska, a political analyst and doctoral candidate at the University of Central Lancashire.
The project, first reported by the United States Naval Institute on Monday, is part of a larger shift in US regional strategy that prioritises smaller, dual-use infrastructure over permanent military bases. It will support rigid-hulled inflatable boats and 'assault boats' built by Oregon-based Reconcraft, which specialises in vessels used by military and law-enforcement agencies.
The US embassy in Manila confirmed that the initiative would enhance repair capabilities for Philippine vessels at the nearby Naval Detachment Oyster Bay – improving readiness without overtly expanding America's military footprint.
Philippine navy vessels anchored at Oyster Bay naval facility in Palawan province. A new US-funded boat maintenance hub is expected to enhance repair capabilities for Philippine vessels at the facility. Photo: AFP
From Washington's perspective, the investment supported 'partner-led deterrence' by enabling allies to operate more independently, without requiring forward-deployed US assets, Gorska said.
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