The Washington Post reports from : “The U.S. return to Subic is a symbol of the strategic shift sweeping Asia and a flash point heading into the Philippines’ presidential election on Monday.”  

“A resurgent China claims nearly all of the South China Sea as its ‘inherent’ territory based on maps with a U-shaped, nine-dash line that scoops deep into exclusive maritime economic zones claimed by the likes of the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia. In recent years, Beijing has built up islands across the area, stacking a growing number of outposts with civilian and military infrastructure.”  

“China’s posture is bringing the Philippines and the United States back together. This year, the Philippines moved forward with the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, or EDCA, which allows the U.S. military to build facilities at five Philippine bases and will likely mean more hardware at Subic Bay, which is now technically a commercial, not a military port.”