US conducts surveillance in West Philippine Sea

A 7-hour surveillance mission was conducted by the US forces over the West Phil Sea last Saturday. The mission was joined by the Pacific Fleet chief Admiral Scott Swift, on-board a P-8A Poseidon plane, this according to the US Pacific Fleet Website.

The participation of Swift allowed him to witness first-hand the full range capabilities of the P8-A Poseidon. A day before the mission was conducted, Admiral Swift assured US Allies, including the Philippines, that the American forces are prepared to respond to any contingency in the South China Sea.

Vice Admiral Alexander Lopez, Chief of the Phil Armed Forces Western Command, with responsibilities that include the Philippine territories in the disputed Spratlys chain, said there is nothing wrong with the surveillance mission because it was conducted over international waters. Adding that “only the Chinese claim that these area are theirs”.

China is claiming virtually the entire South China Sea while the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have overlapping claims.

Subic Bay is a Military Base Again

The Philippine government will reopen the former US naval base in Subic Bay and will station  new fighter jets and two frigates in the once one of the biggest US naval facilities in the world. This is in response to the Chinese continued expansion in the South China Sea.

The naval base was shutdown in 1992 after the senate terminated a bases agreement with Washington. Manila converted the facility into an economic zone.

Using the Subic Bay would allow the Philippine Air Force and Philippine Navy to respond to Chinese moves in the West Philippine Sea more effectively.

The full squadron of FA-50s would be based at Subic, two of which will arrive in December.