Philippine-US ties: hostility and friendship

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines and the United States signed the “Manila Declaration” in which they pledged to deepen their longstanding military and economic ties.

The following are key moments in the relationship between the Philippines and its former colonizer:

1898 – US forces invade the Philippine islands, then a Spanish colony, as the Spanish-American war breaks out. They wrest control of the islands from Spain despite resistance from Filipino rebels who had declared independence from Spain.

1941 – Japanese forces invade the Philippines, which is still under US control, as World War II reaches the islands. Although a joint Filipino-US force tries to repel them, the Japanese take over the archipelago.

1944 – US forces led by General Douglas MacArthur return to the Philippines and are welcomed by Filipinos as liberators, leading to the eventual end of the brutal Japanese occupation.

1946 – The United States finally grants independence to the Philippines although nationalists complain that it comes with many conditions favoring the United States including the maintenance of large US military bases.

1951 – Amid fears of communist expansion, a “Mutual Defense Treaty” between the Philippines and the United States is signed in Washington, binding the two countries to help each other if they are attacked by an external enemy.

1986 – A popular revolt topples dictator Ferdinand Marcos from power, sending him and his family fleeing into exile in Hawaii. Marcos had ruled for 20 years with tacit US consent.

1992 – The last US military bases in the Philippines close down after the Philippine Senate votes not to extend their leases. This brings to an end almost a century of constant US military presence in the Philippines.

1999 – A “Visiting Forces Agreement” comes into effect, providing legal safeguards for US troops who visit the Philippines for military exercises. This paves the way for expanded defense cooperation between the two countries.

2001 – About 600 US special forces establish a presence in the troubled southern Philippines to help train local troops in how to combat Islamic extremists linked to the al-Qaeda network.

November 16, 2011 — The Philippines and the United States sign the “Manila Declaration”, reaffirming their commitments under the mutual defense pact signed 60 years earlier and pledging to deepen their alliance.