Latest news with #SubicBay
South China Morning Post
29-05-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Philippine navy adds new bases in Subic Bay, Mindanao amid South China Sea tensions
The Philippine Navy is set to open a series of naval bases as it bolsters its modernisation efforts, with one of the facilities near a former American military stronghold raising the potential of further sites added to those under an existing deal allowing US forces to train on Philippine soil. Advertisement Observers also note that the plan showcases Manila's willingness to expand the defence reach of its navy amid increasingly volatile territorial rows in the South China Sea , as well as reduce reliance on South Korean shipbuilders by developing local shipyards. President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr confirmed at the Navy's 127th anniversary ceremony on Tuesday that his government was 'investing in responsive and up-to-date assets and systems to ensure that our navy remains a formidable force in the region'. The move is seen as part of the Philippine Armed Forces' modernisation programme. It is currently in its Horizon 3 phase, which started last year and will last for another 10 years. Marcos said they would soon be breaking ground at Naval Station Nabasan, an existing wharf located near the mouth of Subic Bay. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr (centre) waves from a newly built warship at Subic naval base on May 20. Photo: Kyodo
South China Morning Post
23-05-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
South China Sea: Philippines flexes naval muscle with 2 new warships
On a windswept pier in Subic Bay, once the site of the United States' largest overseas naval installation, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr stood before a newly minted guided-missile frigate and declared that his country would 'not surrender anything' in defence of its maritime sovereignty. Advertisement The commissioning of two naval vessels – including the 3,200-tonne (3,500-ton) Miguel Malvar – on the Philippine Navy's 127th founding anniversary on Tuesday was more than ceremonial. It marked a bold signal of Manila's intent to modernise its maritime capabilities and project strength in contested waters. But the additions will prove meaningful only if they are paired with a cohesive strategy and deeper coordination with defence partners, analysts warn. The Miguel Malvar is a guided-missile frigate, measuring over 100 metres (330 feet) in length and outfitted with a 76mm (3 inch) Oto Melara main gun, C-Star surface-to-surface missiles and Blue Shark anti-submarine torpedoes. A sister ship, the Diego Silang, is set to be delivered later this year by South Korea's HD Hyundai under a 28 billion peso (US$503 million) procurement deal signed in 2021. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr (centre) leaves the launch ceremony at Subic naval base in the Philippines on Tuesday. Photo: Kyodo Also commissioned was the Albert Majini, a high-speed patrol craft locally assembled under the navy's Littoral Combat Force. The eighth vessel in the Acero-class series, it honours a fallen naval officer recognised for his gallantry during anti-piracy operations in the southern Philippines
South China Morning Post
23-05-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
South China Sea: Philippines flexes naval muscle with 2 new warships
On a windswept pier in Subic Bay, once the site of the United States' largest overseas naval installation, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr stood before a newly minted guided-missile frigate and declared that his country would 'not surrender anything' in defence of its maritime sovereignty. The commissioning of two naval vessels – including the 3,200-tonne (3,500-ton) Miguel Malvar – on the Philippine Navy's 127th founding anniversary on Tuesday was more than ceremonial. It marked a bold signal of Manila's intent to modernise its maritime capabilities and project strength in contested waters. But the additions will prove meaningful only if they are paired with a cohesive strategy and deeper coordination with defence partners, analysts warn. The Miguel Malvar is a guided-missile frigate, measuring over 100 metres (330 feet) in length and outfitted with a 76mm (3 inch) Oto Melara main gun, C-Star surface-to-surface missiles and Blue Shark anti-submarine torpedoes. A sister ship, the Diego Silang, is set to be delivered later this year by South Korea's HD Hyundai under a 28 billion peso (US$503 million) procurement deal signed in 2021. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr (centre) leaves the launch ceremony at Subic naval base in the Philippines on Tuesday. Photo: Kyodo Also commissioned was the Albert Majini, a high-speed patrol craft locally assembled under the navy's Littoral Combat Force. The eighth vessel in the Acero-class series, it honours a fallen naval officer recognised for his gallantry during anti-piracy operations in the southern Philippines
