A Sea of Troubles: The Philippines and Pacific Geopolitics

By

Gregory Kupsky

Return to Article

Philippine and US Navy ships conducting exercises.

Philippine and US Navy Vessels

Philippine and US Navy ships conducting exercises in the South China Sea, 2014.

President of the United States, Barack Obama, meets with current President of the Philippines, Benigno Aquino III.

President Aquino and President Obama

President of the United States, Barack Obama, meets with current President of the Philippines, Benigno Aquino III.

The monument to General MacArthur's return to the Philippines.

General MacArthur Memorial

The monument to General MacArthur's return to the Philippines, located in Palo, Leyte. Photo by author.

In this 1899 political cartoon, Uncle Sam attempts to restrain a bucking mule, the 'Philippines,' while tied to the tree of imperialism.

1899 U.S.-Philippine Relations

In this 1899 political cartoon, Uncle Sam attempts to restrain a bucking mule, the "Philippines," while tied to the tree of imperialism. "Spain" is seen disappearing in the background after relinquishing the Philippines to the United States after the Spanish American War.

A sunset over the South China Sea or the West Philippine Sea.

South China Sea/ West Philippine Sea

A sunset over the South China Sea - or the West Philippine Sea depending on your perspective.

Flag of the Philippines

Flag of the Philippines

The Filipino Flag.

A Philippine Navy ship at sunset.

Philippine Navy Ship

A Philippine Navy ship at sunset of Palawan, 2008.

Philippine and US Navy ships conducting exercises in the South China Sea, 2010.

Philippine and US Navy Ships

Philippine and US Navy ships conducting exercises in the South China Sea, 2010.

An 1899 Judge cartoon on the larger implications of annexation.

Uncle Sam and Annexation

An 1899 Judge cartoon on the larger implications of annexation.

The surrender of Fil-American troops on Bataan in April 1942.

The March from Bataan, 1942

The surrender of Fil-American troops on Bataan in April 1942 was the largest in U.S. history.

Aerial view of U.S. warships in Subic Bay, 1950s.

Subic Bay, 1950s

Aerial view of U.S. warships in Subic Bay, 1950s.

Ash from Mount Pinatubo collapses buildings at Subic Naval Base.

Subic Naval Base

Ash from Mount Pinatubo collapses buildings at Subic Naval Base.

A photograph of Benigno Aquino III.

Benigno Aquino III

A photograph of Benigno Aquino III President of the Philippines since 2010.

A depiction of the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish American War of 1898.

Battle of Manila Bay, 1898

A depiction of the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish American War of 1898.

President Manuel Quezon of the Philippine Commonwealth.

President Manuel Quezon

Manuel Quezon, president of the Philippine Commonwealth, broadcasts from Washington D.C. to the Philippines in 1937.

General Douglas MacArthur lands in Leyte, Philippines.

General Douglas MacArthur

Douglas MacArthur lands in Leyte, Philippines in October of 1944.

President Ferdinand Marcos and wife, Imelda Marcos with President Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson, 1966.

Presidents Ferdinand Marcos and Lyndon B. Johnson

President Ferdinand Marcos and wife, Imelda Marcos with President Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson, 1966.

The official seal of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

ASEAN

The official seal of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

This iconic photograph is taken along the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) during the People Power Revolution.

People Power Revolution,1986

This iconic photograph is taken along the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) during the People Power Revolution (also called the EDSA Revolution) against the Ferdinand Marcos regime. It led to then President Ferdinand Marcos' resignation.

A photograph taken following the Mount Pinatubo eruption in 1991.

Mount Pinatubo

A photograph taken following the Mount Pinatubo eruption in 1991.

An atoll in the Spratly Islands.

Spratly Shoal

An atoll in the Spratly Islands.

Swallow Reef, a Malaysian outpost in the Spratly Islands.

Swallow Reef, Spratly Islands

Swallow Reef, a Malaysian outpost in the Spratly Islands.

Chinese Navy vessel during exercises in the Spratly Islands, 2013.

Chinese Navy Vessel

Chinese Navy vessel during exercises in the Spratly Islands, 2013.

Share: