Fact Or Fiction-Subic Bay-American Forces

[Jollygoodfellow]

What do you think about this story? 

 

 

US military may have secretly returned to Subic Bay in Philippines

 

The United States may have already redeployed a permanent military presence in the Philippines amid tensions with China in the South China Sea, reports China's nationalistic Global Times tabloid.

 

Philippine president Benigno Aquino III said recently that he was "very close" to completing an agreement to boost the number of US troops allowed into the country as tensions with China continue over islands including the Spratlys and Scarborough Shoal.

 

The US officially ended its permanent military presence in the Philippines after the closure of the Subic Bay naval base in 1991, and has since rotated around 400 troops into the country each year to aid in counter-terrorism operations as consultants and instructors, according to government sources.

 

The Global Times, however, says following an investigation at Subic Bay, now an industrial and commercial area known as the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, that it is an open secret that it will only be a matter of time before the US military makes a permanent return to the Philippines.

 

Global Times reported observing large gray warehouses, power plants, pipelines and docks in the Subic Bay area that appear to be for military use but are far too large and extensive for the Philippines Navy. Its sources also claimed that the premises of the former naval base is being maintained by a "mysterious" foreign company which is said to be preparing for the US Navy to move back in at any time. Under the current negotiations between the two countries, the Philippines may reportedly give the US access to bases including Subic Bay, which is considered an extension of the South China Sea.

 

The owner of a memorabilia store in the bay also told the Global Times that he received an email from US naval officers saying that they will return to the Philippines in 2014 at the earliest.

 

Others have gone further, alleging that the US military has continued to secretly maintain a presence in Subic Bay for years. One local businessman said there is an area along the bay that has been prohibited to the Philippines military for the past three years and is actually a secret US Navy submarine reconnaissance base.

 

A professor in the department of politics at the University of the Philippines, told the Global Times that the US military has already made a permanent return to Subic Bay and is also making a gradual return to the former Clark Air Base in the province of Pampanga, situated about 60 kilometers northwest of Metro Manila. President Aquino has also opened up the country's 25 airports and naval bases to allow the US Navy to enter and leave freely, he added.

 

http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?cid=1101&MainCatID=11&id=20140224000080

[Call me bubba]

appears or seems that someone or somebody has been smoking some of the newly legal product from Colorado.

 Bases as we(the usA) or the Philippines had in the past WILL NOT RETURN. PERIOD

staging areas for maneuvers/exercises  yes .

any further comment by me would be purely speculative.

[Jeff R]

The Philippine islands are too strategic for the US military not to have some kind of presence, even covertly. I have no doubt that the US military will return to the Philippines again in some capacity due to the Chinese beating their chests. The news here in the States is that negotiations are already underway as initiated by the Philippine government. Seems logical to me that under the current situation they would want us back in some capacity. 

[alsuave]

I hope it happens. It will probably be good for local businesses.

[Gerald Glatt]

It was announced today that the US will reduce it armed forces to the lowest level since before WWII.

Less than 485,000, also pay reductions closing of overseas bases.  The 6 years I served we grew to much more than that in Vietnam, along with 100k in Korea and 300k in Germany, well over one million men in uniform.  Be thankful that the world has no threats that could put  the US or it's allies in danger, the 

Chinese  are using water pistols afterall.

[scott h]

IMHO, new bases in the Philippines will never happen. Visiting forces yes, joint exercises yes, small advisory unit (special forces have been here for years) yes, National guard unit training with PNF (a unit from California was here last spring) yep. But as mentioned with the draw down, The Marines moving from Okinawa to Guam. The army moving all their bases south of the Han river in South Korea. The roll on roll off ships in Diego Garcia and the heavy lifter planes the air force has now. The U.S. can project power with out additional forward bases. Even if we could afford it.

[jon1]

What you will see is ships rolling thru for resupply/refit, troops rolling thru for the Balikatan and other Joint Interoperability exercises and Humanitarian assistance missions (at the request of the Phil government). They may lease some buildings for storage but there will never be a "base" again. It is too sensitive a word to the radicals within the Philippines and would never pass any PI Congressional vote.

 

The Phil AF is also supposed to be relocating their units from Clark to Subic to allow more economic development of the flight line area.

 

If the Chinese push against Japan/Ryukyu Islands, the USMC might not leave for Guam... 

 

You also might want to consider this source of topic. A chinese tabloid/propaganda machine.

[Jeff R]

Like I stated earlier, the US will be there "in some capacity". Not necessarily with bases as in the past. We have personal their now and have for a very long time. They have just been kept under the radar so to speak. Remember the Philippine government wants our military support.

[OnMyWay]

You also might want to consider this source of topic. A chinese tabloid/propaganda machine.

 

Exactly.  I found some of the items comical.

 

Global Times reported observing large gray warehouses, power plants, pipelines and docks in the Subic Bay area that appear to be for military use but are far too large and extensive for the Philippines Navy. Its sources also claimed that the premises of the former naval base is being maintained by a "mysterious" foreign company which is said to be preparing for the US Navy to move back in at any time. Under the current negotiations between the two countries, the Philippines may reportedly give the US access to bases including Subic Bay, which is considered an extension of the South China Sea.

 

Apparently they are just leaning how to use Google maps in satellite view.   They should be careful as Google maps for this area is mostly outdated.  Jon, correct me if I am wrong, but the large gray buildings have been here since the old base, correct?  Most of the time they have hundreds of imported trucks parked around that area.

 

That is nice that they recognized our power plant and the fuel depot area.  I probably saw 20 ships in the bay today and it is good that they don't have to go to Manila for fuel!  There are also 4 new huge grain silos out by the airport.  I think maybe those had rice in them but now I am thinking maybe they are missile silos?   :hystery:

 

There will more of a presence but I'm guessing that most ship activity will be support ships that possibly attend to the big guys out in the South China sea.  If I see an aircraft carrier come in, I will let you know.

[OnMyWay]

It was announced today that the US will reduce it armed forces to the lowest level since before WWII.

Less than 485,000, also pay reductions closing of overseas bases.  The 6 years I served we grew to much more than that in Vietnam, along with 100k in Korea and 300k in Germany, well over one million men in uniform.  Be thankful that the world has no threats that could put  the US or it's allies in danger, the 

Chinese  are using water pistols afterall.

 

We are not supposed to talk politics here so I will not express my views on what a certain leader is doing to ruin our country.