Philippines’ plan to fortify coastal defences: deterrence or target?

A Philippine coastal defence project in Palawan could complicate Chinese operations near the Spratly Islands, but is unlikely to close Manila’s military gap with Beijing and could make one of the country’s most important naval hubs a more prominent target in a crisis, analysts have said.On Monday, the Puerto Princesa City Council approved a Department of National Defence proposal allowing the Philippines" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="19015" data-entity-type="organization">Armed Forces of the Philippines to establish Coastal Defence Regiment assets and logistical facilities at Oyster Bay in Bahile village, one of the Philippine Navy’s most strategic bases.Oyster Bay is a key staging and resupply hub for Philippine outposts in the Kalayaan Island Group – Manila’s name for the features it occupies in the disputed Spratly Islands in the China-sea" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="8346" data-entity-type="location">South China Sea.