U.S. to Construct Philippine Fast Boat Base Near South China Sea Flashpoints
The U.S. plans to fund and build a facility capable of hosting watercraft and assault boats on the western coast of Palawan in support of Manila’s operations into the disputed waters of the South China Sea, according to new documents.
A solicitation for a boat maintenance facility seeks to construct support infrastructure to host Philippine vessels in the municipality of Quezon, located only 160 miles east of the flashpoint of Second Thomas Shoal. The documents noted this strategic position on the South China Sea as a project objective.
The base is expected to support at least five vessels, with documents specifying rigid-hulled inflatable boats and “assault boats.” Documents identified the watercraft manufacturer as Oregon-based Reconcraft, a shipbuilder specializing in the construction of military and law enforcement small boats. Several of these vessels were seen at a handover ceremony to the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command, the force responsible for operations in the South China Sea.
Despite the distances and sea states, Philippine forces have frequently deployed small boats into the disputed waters. Philippine Marine Corps patrol craft coastals were present at last year’s June 17th Incident, while a Philippine Coast Guard high-speed response boat sortied from Palawan for a medical mission that recovered personnel from Second Thomas Shoal.
The development of the western coast facility is crucial for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, which has mostly relied on its base at Naval Detachment Oyster Bay to stage patrols and resupply missions to its scattered outposts in the disputed waters. More developed ports on the eastern side of the island require more time to reach Manila’s outposts in the Spratlys. Plans for the project seek to get the watercraft from the facility and into the water within 15 minutes to meet a “rapid deployment readiness” objective.
Specifications for the facility stipulate additional rooms for equipment storage and conference use. The requirements for the project are similar to those set forth under another construction initiative planned for Oyster Bay, which is also set to host Philippine Navy unmanned surface vessels.
Washington aims to have the facility operational by the first quarter of FY 2026 in time for the “arrival and initial use” of the RHIBs and assault boats.
This is the latest U.S.-funded military infrastructure to be planned within the small compound in Quezon following last year’s contract for a two-story barracks. During Western Command’s anniversary ceremony, the Philippine Secretary of National Defense, Gibo Teodoro, highlighted Manila’s infrastructure and capability investments slated for the troops operating in the South China Sea. These American investments also come amid Washington’s enhanced defense cooperation with the Philippines, its oldest treaty ally in the Indo-Pacific.
