New bases for old: an unusual view of the Philippine bases problem

Abstract

This study takes an unusual view of what would happen should we have to leave our facilities and the bases in the Philippines. Most studies review the most available alternatives, catalog their many faults, and conclude that we must retain our facilities in the Philippines because we have no better sites from which to accomplish our missions. This study assumes that since we need a permanent, strong U.S. presence in Southeast Asia, instead of having to cope with the changing attitudes of any local government, the U.S. would be better served by locating and purchasing a permanent U.S. site, and building new facilities there. The site proposed is Malampaya Sound, on the Philippine Island of Palawan. This innovative approach would reduce friction with the Philippines over U.S. facilities' proximity to population centers, jurisdictional disputes stemming from status of forces agreements, and affronts to Philippine "honor and dignity" while enhancing U.S. naval and air capabilities.