MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine defense chief and a confidential report say the country plans to relocate major air force and navy camps to a former U.S. naval base north of Manila to provide faster access to waters and islets being contested by China in the South China Sea.
Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said Sunday that as soon as relocation funds are available the government will move the air force and navy, and their aircraft and warships to Subic Bay, a trade port since the 1992 departure of the U.S. Navy.
A confidential defense department document obtained by The Associated Press says Subic's strategic location will cut travel time for fighter planes compared with Clark airfield also north of Manila, where some air force aircraft are located.
