In 1991, the Philippines voted to finish the presence of American military bases in its country, breaking the last remaining shackles of colonialism. The move was seen as a victory over colonial oppression and a rejection of the excesses of American troops. Recently, nevertheless, the necessity to counterbalance Chinese aggression within the South China Sea has led to a revitalized alliance between the Philippines and the United States. China’s assertive actions, including the development of military facilities on disputed islands, have increased tensions within the region. As a result, the United States and the Philippines reached an agreement granting American forces access to additional bases within the Philippines.
The history between the Philippines and the United States is complex. The United States took control of the Philippines in 1898 and established military bases there. The bases played a task in supporting American-backed dictator Ferdinand Marcos, whose rule was marked by human rights abuses and corruption. The presence of the US military has also led to problems reminiscent of sex trafficking and the abandonment of kids fathered by US soldiers. Nevertheless, the Philippines viewed Marcos as a bulwark against communism in the course of the Cold War, and American bases were seen as essential to security.
After Marcos was overthrown in 1986, the Philippines sought to remove the U.S. military presence and linked the bases to Marcos’s nefarious rule. However, the vacuum created by the lack of the bases gave China a probability to claim its dominance within the South China Sea. The Philippines has turned to the United States for support, signing agreements allowing a greater U.S. military presence within the country. Despite sporadic incidents and criticism of the facility imbalance, the U.S.-Philippines military relationship continued until President Rodrigo Duterte took office in 2016. Duterte sought closer ties with China and questioned the worth of the U.S. alliance. However, relations endured, and the election of President Bongbong Marcos marked a return to stronger ties with the United States and other maritime powers.
The scale and scope of joint U.S.-Philippines military exercises, reminiscent of the Balikatan exercise, have increased lately, sending a message to China. The Philippines has sought support from the United States and other allies to counter Chinese aggression within the South China Sea. However, the history of colonialism, abuses and negative consequences of the American military presence still stays within the minds of many Filipinos. The current alliance is motivated by the necessity to unravel immediate security problems, but it is necessary to cope with these complexities and construct relationships based on mutual respect and customary interests.
