How the Philippines Became America's Unsinkable Aircraft Carrier
November 10, 2025 · Frisian News
The Philippines has allowed the United States to expand military presence on its soil through a series of agreements, positioning itself as a critical asset in America's strategy to counter China in the Indo-Pacific.
Thousands of American troops rotate through the Philippines each year, operating from bases spread across the northern island of Luzon and positions that give direct access to the Taiwan Strait. Strategists refer to this broader network of forward positions as the "First Island Chain," a critical line of defense that keeps Chinese naval power hemmed in. Over the past five years, Washington has signed multiple agreements with Manila, each one expanding American access and deepening military ties in ways that put the Philippines squarely in the middle of great power competition.
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has proven willing to accept this arrangement, embracing the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement and allowing new base locations. The move gives his administration security guarantees at a time when the Philippines faces pressure from China over disputed waters in the South China Sea. Marcos visits Washington, secure in the knowledge that American military hardware and training now flow toward his armed forces. For the moment, this looks like a good trade.
Yet the Philippines has traded genuine independence for the appearance of protection. Chinese coastguard vessels regularly harass Philippine fishing boats and resupply missions to disputed islands. American warships occasionally sail past, but they cannot and will not fight China over rocks and fish stocks. The United States benefits enormously from Philippine cooperation, stationing itself hundreds of miles closer to Chinese territory than geography alone would allow. American interests, not Philippine security, drive the pace and scope of this military expansion.
Domesticated elites in Manila have learned that playing the American card wins short-term rewards. Military aid arrives, generals get American training, and the country gains a powerful backer in international forums. What they lose is the ability to bargain independently or pursue their own course when American and Philippine interests diverge. The arrangement works only as long as Washington remains willing to back Manila against Beijing, a bet that grows riskier as American power faces strain elsewhere.
The Philippines has become what American planners wanted: a forward operating base wrapped in the language of sovereignty and alliance. The arrangement suits Washington perfectly. But a smaller nation that anchors its security to a distant superpower always takes on its risks without gaining control over its fate. The question is whether Manila will notice too late.
Published November 10, 2025 · Frisian News