*** Philippines history Cold War








Philippines History: The Cold War

Huk insurgency
Figure 1.-- The Philippines Government defeated the Coounist Huk insurgency during the 1950s. It flared again during the1960s, but did not pose a serious tghreat to the Government. Here we see guerills still operating in the 1980s. The press caption read, "Guerrillas on patrol in Quezon Province take a break in the yard of a farmer sumpathetic to their cause."

The Philippines became a staunch American ally in the developing Cold War. The Philippines and the United States signed a military assistance pact (March 1947). The Philippines granted the United States a 99-year lease on designated military, naval, and air bases. This was later reduced to a 25 year period (beginning 1967). The Cold War began in Europe, but developed in Asia and Oceania as well. The massive task of rebuilding a war-devestated new nation was aided by extensive American asistance. There were, however, major problems. One of the most serious was a Communist insurgency. The Communist-dominated Hukbalahap guerrillas (Huks) were active in central Luzon. They employed terror and other forms of violnce to achieve land reform and obtain political power. They were a major threat for nearly a decade. Minister of National Defense Ramón Magsaysay (and future president) oversaw a major military effort to supress the Huks insurgency (1954). While not dstroyed, the Huks were defeated as a major military threat to the democratically elected Government. The Philippines joined the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (1954). There were difficulties with the United States over American military installations. Consideranle anti-Americanism entered Filipino political discourse. The major issues involved seemed to have been the military bases. The bases were an important contribution to the Philippines economy, but apparently offended Filipino political sensibilities. The United States formally recognized full Philippine sovereignty over the bases (1956). Tensions with the United states continued until some of the bases were dismantled and the lease period reduced (1959). The United States for its part rejected Philippine financial claims and proposed trade revisions. The Huk insurgency flared again (1960s).

World War II (1941-45)

The Japanese invaded the Philippines days after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Philippino people suffered greviously under Japanese occupation. This helped fuel an effective Resistance campaigns carried out by guerillas which had achieved control of substantial areas. The Japanese, however, controlled the population centers, especially on Leyte and Luzaon. The Navy preferred targetting Formosa (Taiwan), but MacArthur eventually prevailed with his insistence that America must retun to the Philippines. He considered his vow to return a pledge to the Philippinp people that had to be honored. Some how his vow, "I shall return." seems less approaptiate than "We shall return", but it was pure MacArthur and he convinced President Roosevelt. Reports from resistance fighters and American pilots revealed that the Japanese were not heavily defending large areas of the Islands. The inasion of Mindanao was considered unecessary and the decession was made to strike first further north at Leyte. It was in this engagement that the Kamakazis first appeared, although still in relatively small numbers. MacArthur President Sergio Osmeña waded ashore with the invasion force at Leyte Gulf (October 20, 1944). The American Army forces advanced steadily. The Japanese resisted, but could not match American fire power. The most serious Japanese resistence occurred at sea. The resulting naval engaement following on Battle of the Philippones Sea is commonly referred to as the Battle of Leyte Gulf. It was the largest sea battle ever fought and resulted in the destruction of the Japanese fleet as an effective fighting force. This opened the way for the land campaign. Further landings occurred at Ormoc (December 7, 1944).

Independendence (1946)

The Philippines were to be a staging area for Operation Olympus, the planned invasion of the Japanese Home Islands. The Japanese had retreated to the mountains of northcentral Luzon and were isolated there. Finally after the atomic boms were dropped, the Japanese surrenderd (August 1945). They had lost nearly 0.5 million men trying to hold the Philippines in the Japanese Empire. With the end of the War, The United States could then begin to transfer soverignity to an independemt Filipino Republic which had been scheduled earlier. When the Japanese invaded, the Philippines had a democratically elected Government preparing to accept the responsibilities of independence. The president was Manuel L. Quezon. Independence had to be postponed because of the Japanese invasion (December 1941). After the War ended, the United States granted substantial sums to the new Filipino Government. The United States kept its committment made before the War. The reconstituted Philippine Congress met for the first time since its 1941 election (June 9, 1945). Any new Government faces problems. The task faced by the new Government was unprecented, because of the explotive nature of the Japanese occuipation and the savege treatment of the Filipino people. The country was devastated by the War. Manilaooked like Hiroshima. The country's economy was in ruins. There was also political division and guerrilla warfare. Not all the anti-Japanese forces were committed to restoring democracy. There was also a Communist guierilla movement, President Quezon had died durig the War (1944). Vice President Sergio Osmeña replaced him. Osmeña was a founder of Nacionalista Party. In the first election after the War, Osmeña’s leadership was immediately challenged (January 946). What emerged as the Liberal Party) broke away from the Nationalist Party and nominated Manuel Roxas who proceeded to win the election (April 1946). The Philippines became an independent country (July 4, 1946).

American Ally

The Cold War began in Europe, but developed in Asia and Oceania as well. The Philippines became a staunch American ally in the developing Cold War. This was not the case for most of the newly independent countries. Most adopted vasying dwgrees of neutrality. Some became Soviet allies or like India demonstrated considerable support for the Soviet Union and received Soviet economic assiatance, little which actually promoted actual growth. The Philippines and the United States signed a military assistance pact (March 1947). The Philippines granted the United States a 99-year lease on designated military, naval, and air bases. This was later reduced to a 25-year period (beginning 1967). The Philippines joined the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (1954).

Recovery

The massive task of rebuilding a war-devestated new nation was aided by extensive American asistance.

Communist Insurgency: The Huks

There were, however, major problems. One of the most serious was a Communist insurgency. The Communist-dominated Hukbalahap guerrillas (Huks) were active in central Luzon. They employed terror and other forms of violnce to achieve land reform and obtain political power. They were a major threat for nearly a decade.The initial government resonse was military, conducted with some brutality and cusing signbificant civilian casualties. This was only fueling the insurection. The srupulosly hones Minister of National Defense Ramón Magsaysay (and future president) oversaw a major effort to supress the Huks insurgency (1954). He was aided by a CIA oppertive Edward Lansdale who counciled a less aggressive effort. Landale saw the early purely military effort against a competent gurilla army skillfully employing propagnda was not working. Magsaysay and Lansdale became close associates and friends. The effort they pursued was what is now know known as wimming the hearts and minds of the population. While not destroyed, the Huks were defeated as a major military threat to the democratically elected government. One author asuggests that this approach should have been followed in Vietnam. [Boot] We are not sure this is the case. The two countries weregeograohically close, but didfrent in important ways. The American colonial effort in the Philippines was different than that of the French. The Americans had brutally supressed an earlier Filipino insurection, but in the interim had largely won over many Filpinos. And after only three decades, the Americans had decided to grant independence to the Philippines. In addition, as aesult of the Spanosh, the Filkipinos were over wealming Christian. The Huk insurgency flared again (1960s). Nany of the Huk militants in the Southern islands became Muslim fundamentalists--quite a major shift.

Ferdinand Marcos

Ferdinand Marcos took advantage of the American anti-communist policy and became increasingly corrupted. The most famous artifact of nis corrupt regime became his wife's immense shoe collection which is now a part of a museum exhibit in the Philippines.

Base Controversy

There were difficulties with the United States over American military installations. The Americans was not going to rock the boat with Marcos' abuses because of their use of Subic Bay as one of the major ports used by the Pacific fleet in the Far East. The primary port was Yokohama, Japan. They wanted to have a forward base to contaun Mainland China and to support the Viertmam War. Very shortly after Marcos was finally forced out of officend the Americans were forced to close up shop in Subic Bay. But during those American friendly years the Philippines, especially in Luzon, got help building roads and and bridges gtom the U.S. Army Engineers who's mandate was to improve the transportation facilities in the base area. Consideranle anti-Americanism entered Filipino political discourse. The major issues involved seemed to have been the military bases. The bases were an important contribution to the Philippines economy, but apparently offended Filipino political sensibilities. The United States formally recognized full Philippine sovereignty over the bases (1956). Tensions with the United states continued until some of the bases were dismantled and the lease period reduced (1959). The United States for its part rejected Philippine financial claims and proposed trade revisions.

Sources

Boot, Max. The Road not Taken (Liveright: 2018).






CIH





Navigate the Children in History Website:
[Return to the Main Cold War country page]
[Return to the Main Philippines independent republic page]
[Return to the Main Philippines history page]
[Return to the Main Philippines page]
[Return to the Main Oceania page]
[About Us]
[Introduction] [Biographies] [Chronology] [Climatology] [Clothing] [Disease and Health] [Economics] [Freedom] [Geography] [History] [Human Nature] [Law]
[Nationalism] [Presidents] [Religion] [Royalty] [Science] [Social Class]
[Bibliographies] [Contributions] [FAQs] [Glossaries] [Images] [Links] [Registration] [Tools]
[Children in History Home]







Created: 6:53 AM 10/12/2012
Last updated: 9:53 PM 3/14/2018