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The Philippines has just learned how a single sentence can shake the waters it sails in. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recent remarks about Taiwan, which he claims were “misinterpreted,” have escalated tensions with China and brought the region closer to a standoff. But this flare-up didn’t start with one statement. It began years ago when Manila threw open its doors to U.S. military bases, drones, and missile systems, betting that Washington’s presence would keep Beijing at bay. Now, China is calling it a provocation, the U.S. is quietly entrenching its foothold, and Philippine fishermen and patrol boats are caught in the middle. This episode dives into how America’s defense deals with the Philippines work, why they matter to the South China Sea, and how Manila’s swinging alliances have made it a case study in foreign policy missteps in the Indo-Pacific, a region that will shape the geopolitics of the century.Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/4h6AQ1TSXmE