U.S. will build repair facilities for the Philippine Navy near the disputed South China Sea

The U.S. Navy volition conception 2 facilities for the repair and attraction of Philippine subject boats successful a state facing the South China Sea, wherever confrontations betwixt the Philippine and Chinese seashore guards person flared.

The U.S. Embassy said connected Wednesday (July 16, 2025) the task volition instrumentality spot astatine Oyster Bay and Quezon municipality successful occidental Palawan province. It said successful a connection that it underscored the pact allies’ purpose to support a “free, unfastened and resilient Indo-Pacific.”

Palawan faces the disputed South China Sea, which Beijing claims virtually successful its entirety, and is the office of the Philippine military’s Western Command, which deploys navy patrol ships, surveillance vessels and craft to support its territorial interests.

Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan person besides been progressive successful the long-simmering territorial disputes successful the engaged waterway, a flashpoint successful the determination rivalry betwixt the U.S. and China.

Washington has nary territorial claims successful the waters but has repeatedly stated that it’s obligated to support the Philippines, its oldest pact state successful Asia, if Filipino forces, ships and craft travel nether an equipped attack, including successful the South China Sea.

The U.S. subject has separately constructed warehouses, barracks and different facilities successful 9 Philippine subject camps, wherever rotating batches of American forces tin enactment and store weapons nether a 2014 defence pact.

Chinese officials did not instantly remark connected the U.S. Navy’s program to conception the 2 facilities successful Palawan state but they person agelong accused Washington of plotting with its allies to incorporate China’s rise.