Philippines to build new islands port near Taiwan without US: Governor

The port project was intended to help the unloading of cargo from Manila during rough seas in the monsoon season. - Reuters

MANILA: The US military will not be involved in development of a port in the Philippines' remote northernmost islands near Taiwan, the local governor said on Friday (March 22), removing a potential source of friction with China over the US presence in the region.

The governor of the Batanes islands, less than 200km (125 miles) from Taiwan, said in August she had sought US funding for a new port there. The US embassy had at the time confirmed its diplomats and US Army Pacific (USARPAC) experts had been engaging local authorities on various support measures for the islands.