SUBIC (Philippines): The Philippines said on Monday a former US naval base facing the South China Sea could play a key role as a hub for American ships as Washington moves to strengthen its presence in the Asia-Pacific.

Once the US military’s largest overseas facility, the former Subic Bay naval base 80 kilometres northeast of Manila has been transformed into a freeport and tourism zone since it was shut down in 1992.

But a senior Philippine official pointed out that, with the United States planning to shift the bulk of its fleet to the Pacific by 2020 as it focuses on Asia, it would need natural deep water bays to dock its ships and submarines.

“Based on US official pronouncements, there is a strategic rebalancing (of its forces) and that means more assets, more aircraft in the western Pacific,” said Edilberto Adan, a former general who heads the government’s Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) commission.

“There are very few ports that can accommodate naval assets and naval carriers, and one of them is Subic.

“As the US begins to implement (the shift), Subic will play an important role because it is one of the important facilities that can service their presence in the Pacific.”

He said Subic could “provide the necessary port calls, port visits and servicing required by US assets, naval or aircraft”.—AFP