Filipino military pushes naval base upgrades, fearing Chinese spying

DefenseNews: MANILA, Philippines, The Philippines is ramping up its maritime defense posture with plans to establish and upgrade several naval bases in critical areas across the archipelago, including an island base under a basing agreement with the United States and a former American base in Luzon. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro told reporters last month about plans to speed up infrastructure works in Balabac Island, a joint Air Force and Navy base in the southern end of Palawan province. The island is a “strategic location” for the count…