Asian Angle | Is the Philippines doomed to be dragged into a US-China conflict over Taiwan?

President Joe Biden’s recent remarks that the United States will commit troops to defend Taiwan fired up debate on whether Washington’s view towards the island is shifting away from a long-standing policy of “strategic ambiguity” to a more clear approach.

This reiteration of previous impromptu statements he made on the matter sent made waves among allies who may be on the frontline should the US respond to a Taiwan contingency.

The Philippines, its former colony and long-time ally in Asia, comes to mind. Its geographical proximity, and existing US military access to several sites across the archipelago make it an ideal staging ground for American forces.

As the Southeast Asian country most likely to welcome US overtures, Washington is expected to double down on courting its ally. But consenting to an expanded US troop and arms presence, especially short to medium-range missiles that can hit Chinese targets in the South China Sea or on the mainland, may beset Manila’s relations with Beijing, its largest trade partner.

If the past can teach us anything about the future, there is reason to be wary. During World War II, the Philippines, then a US Commonwealth and forward military base, suffered the most among Southeast Asian countries, as the presence of American bases made it a legitimate target for Japan.