Why airport at former US naval base in Philippines has Washington’s backing

Experts said the proposed Sangley Point International Airport in Cavite could become more than a commercial aviation project because of its access to the South China Sea and the Luzon Strait, a critical corridor in any Taiwan-related contingency.

The US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) said on Tuesday it would fund a feasibility study for the proposed airport “to serve the Philippines’ projected aviation needs and define strong security measures to protect direct flights to several major US aviation hubs”.

Under the plan, the USTDA will provide technical expertise, including air traffic forecasts, financial analyses and recommendations for advanced security screening.