{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.01813236627379873, 'fraction_numerical': 0.013599274705349048, 'mean_word_length': 5.147632311977716, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
PHILIPPINES – U.S. SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP: COLD WAR AND BEYOND

Ever since its independence in 1946 the Philippines has had a "special relationship" with the United States which had the archipelago under its control for more than forty years after Spanish colonial rule over the territory had ended in 1898. Although from time to time nationalistic outpourings have led the Filipinos to look askance and question the special relationship, overall relations between the two countries both during the Cold War and its aftermath have been quite close. This paper takes a look at the relationship as it has evolved and deals with the major developments occurring upto the late 1990s. The study would reveal the nature and extent of Filipino dependence on the United States and it is this that has allowed degree of penetration and leverage the Americans have enjoyed. The Philippines became independent as a close associate of the United States. Although the United States moved rapidly to grant independence to the Philippines, it did so on terms that were favourable to American economic interests. Also soon after independence, American strategic interests were protected by the Military Bases Agreement signed in Manila on 14 March 1947. By 1949, the communist led Hukbalahap (People's Anti-JapaneseArmy) turned to armed struggle against the corrupt ruling elite. This led to American military aid and relative success in containing the insurgency. In January 1950, the American Secretary of State, Dean Acheson, declared the Philippines to be part of America's strategic defence perimeter in the Pacific. Philippine foreign policy before 1975 may be characterised as the maintenance of close security, political, economic and cultural ties with the U.S., sympathy for noncommunist nationalist movements, cultivation of ties with a number of non-communist Asian neighbours, loyalty to the principles of the United Nations and participation in regional activities. However, the manifold connection with the United States continued to be the central pillar in the Philippines' foreign relations and to such an extent that the newly independent country came to be regarded as a spokesman for American interests.