Some days there’s just nothing to report I guess – but – it seems the local bureau of the NHK got took hook line and sinker. Allegedly over a plan to put up a base on Ulugan BAy in Puerto Princesa City named after all things the ‘fortress base’ of the cartoon series voltus 5!
I doubt very much the environmentally criitcal areas of Ulugan Bay would be touched – in part since covering in that area for over a decade I can remember how many deep draft vessels have run aground in the bay.
It’s not the safest port in Palawan. Coron Island likely has a better anchorage for ships that would be needed to support a fighting force of that size on the island. Mostly flat bottomed vessels or smaller coastal patrol vessels use the bay.
It’s why the Japanese Imperail Navy never really used Ulugan during world war II. They used San Vicente’s port barton, or Pagdanan Bay to the north and El Nido’s Bacuit Bay or the Balabac Passage areas further south.
It seems NHK got suckered into the story listening to Anti-American legislators and some groups who do not want the Philippines to be able to build up a credible defense force on Palawan Island.
NHK should know better – a little research would have told them US forces regularly visit the area for drills, training, and Two major Balakatan joint training missions have been held there,
The US did finance a special boat squadron training center on the east coast of Puerto Princesa in Honda Bay. Which is used to train members of the Philippine National police special forces maritime unit versus pirates and insurgents.
Palawan has had a tragic episode of extremist terrorism in the past and two americana were killed after a kidnapping.
A Japanese network one would think would know better. Is the Philippines building a base there? Yes its upgrading Naval Station Ulugan Bay or Cunanan Naval station about 20 km from the would famous underground river.
There are some on Palawan – among them friends of mine who often talk of the story which has been repeatedly played down by the Philippine DND and denied by the US Pentagon.
The only new base the US seems set to develop is larger port and well developed facility in Vietnam where a lease agreement for the use of Cam Rhan Bay piers for regular visits in ongoing with the Vietnamese government.
But the likely rotation stations of the US military would more likely be Subic or other existing facilities since the location mentioned in the report is unsuitable for larger vessels. Ulugan is a big bay. But it needs major work – during a defense budget cutback season its unlikely the US would spend money for a new base. NHK could have also talked to Palawan officials who would have laughed off the story as one brought on by some obsessed to not see the Philippine Navy improve its capability on the west coast of Palawan if only to not let them find out about cargo that moves along its coastal areas ‘free traded’ coves and islets.
Better luck next time Ms. Degracias… do a better job next time! hahahahaha! at least I had a laugh tonight.
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