US military involvement in the proposed port in the Batanes islands, less than 200 km from Taiwan, could stoke tensions at a time of growing friction with China and a drive by Washington to intensify its longstanding defense treaty engagement with the Philippines.
MANILA, Philippines – The US military is in talks to develop a civilian port in the remote northernmost islands of the Philippines, the local governor and two other officials told Reuters, a move that would boost American access to strategically located islands facing Taiwan.
Marilou Cayco, the provincial governor of the Batanes islands, told Reuters in a message she had sought funding from the US for the building of an “an alternative port” there, which was intended to assist the unloading of cargo from the capital, Manila, during rough seas in the monsoon season. The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the proposed port in Basco.
Kanishka Gangopadhyay, a spokesperson for the US embassy in Manila, said US Embassy and US Army Pacific experts had been engaging the governor and local government, “at their request, to discuss ways USARPAC can support engineering, medical, and agricultural development projects in the province.”Previous President Rodrigo Duterte had threatened to scrap the U.S.
Security officials in Manila said they believed any military conflict in the Taiwan Strait would inevitably affect the Philippines, given its geographic proximity to Taiwan and the presence of over 150,000 Filipinos on the democratically-governed island.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Alex Eala breaches WTA top 200 after solid pro runFilipina teen tennis ace Alex Eala surpasses her previous career-best in the latest world ranking
Read more »
Signal No. 3 up in parts of Batanes, Babuyan Islands as Goring maintains strengthTropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 is hoisted over the southern portion of Batanes and northeastern portion of Babuyan Islands as Typhoon Goring maintained its strength on Tuesday morning, state weather bureau PAGASA said.
Read more »
'Goring' may re-intensify into super typhoon, may pass close to BatanesTYPHOON 'Goring' may re-intensify into 'near super typhoon strength' when it passes very close or make landfall in the vicinity of Batanes this Wednesday, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said on Tuesday.
Read more »
Parts of Batanes, Babuyan Islands still under Signal No. 3 due to GoringTwo areas remained under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 as Typhoon Goring maintained its strength as it moved west northwestward, PAGASA said Tuesday afternoon.
Read more »
Super Typhoon Goring crosses Balintang Channel between Batanes, Babuyan IslandsSignal No. 5 has been lifted, but Signal Nos. 1 to 4 and rainfall warnings remain in effect as of 5 am on Wednesday, August 30
Read more »
Signal No. 3 up over Batanes, parts of Babuyan Islands due to GoringTropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 is raised over Batanes and portions of Babuyan Islands as Super Typhoon Goring left the Balintang Channel and moved toward the northern part of West Philippine Sea.
Read more »