CRS INSIGHT
DOD's Rotation to the Philippines
May 31, 2016 (IN10496)
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Related Author
Daniel H. Else
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Daniel H. Else, Specialist in National Defense (delse@crs.loc.gov, 7-4996)
The United States has long maintained a significant military presence in the Pacific, with permanent garrisons and
regular deployments by ground, naval, and air forces and routine exercises with their local counterparts. In 2011-2012,
the Department of Defense (DOD) announced its intention to "rebalance" by focusing more of its attention and activity
on Asia. One goal is to influence the development of regional norms and rules, particularly as China exerts greater
influence.
On March 18, 2016, the United States and the Republic of the Philippines announced the selection of five military sites
that will host a rotation of U.S. military units. This marks the first time that U.S. units will be welcomed by the
Republic on regularly scheduled visits since the last permanent garrisons were withdrawn in 1992 (see CRS In Focus
IF10250, The Philippines
).
The announcement identified five Philippine installations that would be configured to host U.S. units. Figure 1 locates
these sites relative to the nation's capital, Manila, and the former U.S. installations of Clark Air Base and Naval Station
Subic Bay. The Government of the Philippines plans to modernize these and other installations, and U.S. infrastructure
investment plans for those selected are now being developed.
Figure 1 also locates the Philippines relative to the United States and to several nearby South China Sea reefs and
shoals on which the Peoples Republic of China has created landmass and built facilities (see CRS Report R44072,
Chinese Land Reclamation in the South China Sea: Implications and Policy Options). The Philippines lie in the far-
western reaches of the Pacific Ocean, nearly 9,000 miles from Washington, DC. A flight from the nation's capital to
Manila requires 17½ hours, or the equivalent of flying between Washington and San Francisco, CA, three times before
landing in Lincoln, NE. By contrast, Philippine military installations lie only 200 miles, or approximately the distance
between Washington, DC, and New York City, from the nearest Chinese-developed reefs and shoals (see CRS Report
R42930, Maritime Territorial Disputes in East Asia: Issues for Congress).
Figure 1. Sites Selected for the Rotation of U.S. Forces
Showing former Major U.S. Garrisons, Announced Rotational Bases, and Chinese-
occupied Reefs and Shoals
