Philippines Looks to Revive U.S. Naval Base: Look to Subic Bay to Counter Chinese Moves

The Wall Street Journal ^ | September 16, 2013 | Andrew Browne

[2ndDivisionVet]

SUBIC BAY, Philippines—In 1991, after the Philippine Senate voted to close Subic Naval Base—then the largest American overseas military facility—an emotional Sen. Agapito Aquino summed up the popular mood. It was, he said, "the dawn of our nation's birth."

Tossing out the Americans from Subic and nearby Clark Air Base, he added, had ended the country's "crippling dependence" on its former colonial overlord.

Now, the Philippines wants American forces back in Subic to counter Chinese moves off the Philippine coast. Just west of Subic, Chinese ships have fenced off the Scarborough Shoal, one of the world's richest fishing grounds, which falls within the Philippines's 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone.....

[Domangart]

You can never go home.

[American Constitutionalist]

Plenty of natural resources on land and in the water in the Philippines maybe the US could make the Philippines the 51st state.
Yeah, I know, what about all the poor people who will be living on the government dole.
Make them the 51st state with certain limitations.
It would make a perfect strategic spot to counter China and take advantage of growing economic advantages being in Asia.

[dfwgator]

Even Vietnam wants us to return to Cam Ranh Bay.

[clamper1797]

I wouldn’t mind a night or two in “po” city ... if only to remember the old times ... when the streets weren’t paved

[clamper1797]

Maybe in new Jolo’s or in the Subic Bay club in Subic City

[Delta 21]

We will return to P.I. when Guam capsizes.

[Cowboy Bob]

Too late, Philippines, go suck on it. Now is a good time to learn Chinese!

[2ndDivisionVet]

The Philippines Should Become The 51st State
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1349175/posts

Should the Philippines consider becoming a state of the Union?
http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2012/11/should-the-philippines-consider-becoming-a-state-of-the-union/

[Fai Mao]

“We will return to P.I. when Guam capsizes.”

Given the litter the locals pile up on the East side of the island that may happen any day!

[max americana]

I’m in canada right now for a location shoot, then next week after the RP. Anyone who’s been to Subic knows it’s a big place...bigger than Universal Studios and Paramount combined.

Funny thing: our workers keep quitting as they said it’s haunted big time.

[2ndDivisionVet]

I doubt that Red China has any plans to invade the Philippine Islands. To what end? A Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere? How did that work out for Imperial Japan?

[drunknsage]

Haunted? Perfect when do I start?

[max americana]

Well, our Manila liaison said he couldn’t explain it but supposedly it is. So’s the former Clark Air Base which we wanted to buy a portion of.

[Utilizer]

Too little, too late. They could not wait to express their "independence" by politically pressuring us to leave once they thought they were strong enough to play with the 'big bollocks bas'surds, now they are finding out that we were shielding them from a lot more than they are capable of handling. And now, they want us to place a few "people" there, so that we will be forced to "respond" when some entity's aggresive moves gets one of them hurt.

Guess what, pares. Your choices have consequences. You wanted us out of the playing field, now deal with your own opponents. You demanded we leave the field you were playing upon. Now, we are gone and too late for the karma you reap, you ungrateful lot!

[dfwgator]

And now, they want us to place a few "people" there

Yep, where have I heard that one before?

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

Should have thought about the long term ramifications of going it alone back then. Fat chance in hell we will go back. Deal with it.

[max americana]

My Filipino buddy here told me the running joke was that the RP didn’t kick out the Americans but it was actually Mt Pinatubo erupted and blanketed the region with ashes that the US didn’t want to clean up after the damage it caused on the bases.

[Utilizer]

*snort!* Considering some of the cr*p I have had to clean up over the years whilst in the military, that is a joke indeed!

[AlexW]

“I doubt that Red China has any plans to invade the Philippine Islands.”
_____________________________________________

Yes, the US was ready to pull out anyway, especially
after the volcanic eruption. Their lease was terminated when the US would not meet the terms of renewal.
Clark is an international airport, and Subic is an international free-trade zone.