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The Philippines as a Pawn: How U.S. Interests Override Filipino Sovereignty

The recent statements by AFP Chief Gen. Romeo Brawner, urging the Northern Luzon Command to "prepare for any eventuality" regarding a potential Taiwan conflict, should alarm every Filipino. His remarks—emphasizing that the Philippines will inevitably be drawn into a war due to its proximity to Taiwan and the presence of 250,000 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) there—highlight a grim reality: the Philippines is once again being positioned as a pawn in a geopolitical struggle where it has little to gain and everything to lose.

U.S. Interests and the Philippines’ Role in a Proxy War

The United States has a long history of securing its global hegemony through proxy conflicts, where smaller nations bear the human and economic cost of great power rivalries. Ukraine's ongoing war against Russia offers a sobering example. The U.S. supplied military aid, intelligence, and diplomatic support, but it is Ukraine that suffers destruction and loss of life. A similar fate may await the Philippines should Washington escalate its strategic competition with Beijing into open hostilities.

The annual Balikatan exercises, which Gen. Brawner describes as a "full battle test," are not designed to enhance Philippine self-defense but to integrate the country into U.S. war plans. The Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) grants the U.S. access to key Philippine military facilities, not for Philippine security, but to project American power in Asia. While Washington claims it stands as Manila’s ally, it has no treaty obligation to defend the Philippines in case of war—only in the event of an "armed attack" on its forces. This leaves the nation in a precarious position, where it could be used as a launchpad for U.S. operations against China without reciprocal protection.

The Economic Mirage of U.S. Partnership

For decades, successive Philippine administrations have entertained the illusion that deeper military cooperation with the U.S. would lead to economic development. Yet, empirical evidence suggests otherwise. The U.S. military presence in Subic and Clark did little to uplift local industries, and today, increased military ties have not resulted in significant American investments in Philippine infrastructure, manufacturing, or technology.

Instead, U.S. economic policies have largely favored American multinational corporations, with little regard for fostering self-reliance in the Philippines. Trade agreements have often been lopsided, ensuring that the country remains dependent on imports rather than building a robust industrial base. The so-called “Mutual Defense” partnership serves as a political tool to ensure the Philippines remains a subordinate actor, focused on military rather than economic development.

The Cost of Being a U.S. Proxy in an East Asian War

The most immediate danger, however, is that the Philippines could suffer the fate of other nations used as battlegrounds for great power struggles. Should war break out over Taiwan, the Philippines will likely be on the frontline, not just in the evacuation of OFWs but as a key staging ground for U.S. military operations. China has already warned that any nation aiding U.S. intervention in Taiwan will be considered a hostile actor. This means Philippine soil could become a target for missile strikes, naval blockades, or direct military confrontation.

The government must ask: What will the Philippines gain from such an arrangement? The promise of American military assistance is hollow when weighed against the potential devastation a war with China could bring. Any conflict would disrupt trade, destroy infrastructure, and endanger millions of Filipino lives—far from the supposed security that U.S. military presence claims to offer.

The Need for a Truly Independent Foreign Policy

Filipinos must demand a foreign policy that prioritizes national interest over allegiance to foreign powers. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration, much like its predecessors, has continued to align closely with Washington, ignoring the broader consequences of such dependence.

A truly independent foreign policy would seek diplomatic solutions to regional tensions, strengthen economic ties with diverse partners, and ensure that the Philippines is not trapped in a conflict it cannot afford. ASEAN-led diplomacy, economic self-sufficiency, and military modernization focused on national defense rather than foreign intervention must become the priority.

History has shown that U.S. alliances come with heavy costs. If the Philippine government fails to recognize this, then it is not acting in the interest of the Filipino people, but in service to a superpower that sees our nation as nothing more than a strategic outpost. The time to resist this trajectory is now—before the country is dragged into a war it did not start and will not win.

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