Background

On July 4, 1946, after almost 50 years of American rule, the USA granted the Philippines full independence, and Filipino's ruled themselves for the first time since the early 1500s. It is a natural right for all people to determine their destiny, and not to have others determine the fate of a people.

Food for Thought

On July 8, 1853, Commodore Perry arrived in Japan for the express purpose of opening up trade between Japan, and the Far East generally, with the USA. Japan's technology was 500 years behind, but the greatest resource of any nation is its people. In 1868, the Meiji restoration began. The Japanese authorities realized that American success was related to three things: Universal education, industry, and honest government. Universal education provides properly trained workers for industry (high productivity of labor), and honest government allows industry and infrastructure improvements to thrive. In one generation, Japan went from a country with 5% literacy to 100% literacy, primitive industry to the economic powerhouse of East Asia, and from a culture of corruption to one of reasonably honest civil service.
In 1898, the USA took the Philippine islands from the Spanish Empire for a similar reason why the USA sent Commodore Perry to Japan. Today, the Philippine nation is in far better shape, relatively speaking, than Japan was in 1853. Filipinos have over 95% literacy, and some industry, but corruption prevents the surprising number of well-educated Filipinos from reaching anywhere near their full potential. A little more than 90% of Filipinos speak English to some degree, and ~40% of Filipinos think in English. This is also an enormous untapped resource. In addition, the Philippines have vast natural resources that Japan does not have.

Problem of the Present

Over 200 years ago, someone asked Napoleon about China. His response was to let China sleep, as when China awakens, the world will tremble. It takes no more than a fool to understand that China is awakening. Recently, President Duterte, in a symposium that included Chinese business interests and the Chinese ambassador to the Philippines, seriously broached the proposition that the Philippines become a province of China. China has a poor record of dealing with ethnic and religious minorities. Such a proposal, if implemented, would likely, if not almost certainly, result in the Filipino people becoming strangers in their own land; a land raped of its resources to benefit a foreign power. This process has already begun, and there is not much time left to stop this downward slide.

Sovereignty

Filipinos are rightfully proud of their sovereignty. Unfortunately, this sovereignty is in mortal danger. England used trade, corrupt leaders, and military threats to eventually conquer India. The Filipino people have a gut instinct that something like this is happening o the Philippines now. China is using a similar technique in many parts of the world. If left unchecked, corrupt officials will sell the wealth and people of the Philippines for a bowl of mush, just as Esau did in the Bible. Things move far faster now than in the 18th century. There is not much time left. Filipinos could, very soon, find themselves in a far worse position economically, and with sovereignty in name only.

A Different Way

For almost 120 years, there has been a movement in the Philippines to apply for US statehood. I propose a variant of this idea. First is to apply for protectorate status. This would stave off the problems of the man-made islands, and military intimidation. Second, a treaty that would return the vast majority, if not all, of the Philippines to territorial status, with a pathway to multiple statehoods. This pathway would include substantive improvements in living conditions, infrastructure, and productivity as part of being returned to territorial status. Such a move would provide many high-paying jobs for Filipinos and Americans both. There is no reason why the Philippines can't have the same standard of living as Guam or the Northern Mariana islands, which are primarily comprised of Filipinos and Polynesians. Such a treaty could contain many provisions to protect the Filipino way of life. It is important to note that such a treaty could provide more sovereignty to the Philippines than is enjoyed now.

Solving Problems

The reality is that there will be support for this idea in both countries, but there will also be resistance in both countries. On the Philippine side, there will be concern for loss of sovereignty, and on the American side, there will be concern about bringing in over 100 million new people. Both of these problems can be solved with dialogue and compromise. There is much more to say on this subject, but I close my missive with a comment regarding another treaty: The sale of Alaska, by Russia, to the USA in 1867. Many people at the time couldn't understand it, and called it "Seward's folly." No one says that today, as it was an extraordinary and prescient move.

Tom Crush, Juris Doctor
tcrush859@gmail.com