The Philippines: Why It's Harder to Invade Than You Might Think
History books often say that the Philippines became colonized by the Spaniards, but few mention how difficult it was to capture this island nation in Southeast Asia. It took over 100 years of fighting before Spain could claim victory against the local people, and even then, many natives continued to fight back against their European invaders well into the 20th century. So why was it so hard to invade the Philippines? Here are a few reasons why this island nation still stands strong as an independent nation today.
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It’s no secret that there’s an important U.S. military base in the Philippines, and it’s obvious why it’s located there: strategic positioning on the Pacific Rim. However, you might be surprised to know that the base is there because of the unique geography of the Philippines itself. While the country has been invaded before, it’s been much more difficult than many other parts of Asia because of these 3 big reasons that explain why the U.S.-Philippine relationship has lasted for decades.
The Philippines can be a challenging place for an invading army to take over. The country is made up of an archipelago of islands that are separated by miles of water, which means that any invader will have to conquer one island at a time. Added on top of this is the fact that many people living in the country are armed with guns, making it hard for invaders to get around. In addition, some areas within the country are dominated by rebel groups who are against Western interference and would fight back if invaded. There’s also plenty of natural barriers like mountains or rivers that could slow down any invasion attempt too. Finally, there's a naval base in Subic Bay where China has been conducting military drills near Philippine territory. All these factors mean that taking over the Philippines would be very difficult for most countries and make it more likely that they'll leave them alone.
The location of the country is what makes it hard to invade. The archipelago is made up of over 7,000 islands. This means that an invading force would have a hard time establishing control. Add in the fact that there are over 100 languages spoken and you have a country that is difficult to conquer from within. There are also dense forests on some of the islands which make it harder for invaders. When Americans were trying to take the island of Samar in 1944, they found themselves surrounded by high trees with no way out. One soldier was quoted as saying We were lost back here...sometimes I wonder how we ever got out. Another contributing factor is that Filipinos are known for their fierce fighting skills and many revolutionaries still exist today. Filipinos are willing to fight hard against any potential invader because they're not just protecting their land but also their culture, language and identity as well. Fighting on home turf is one of the most effective tactics used by Filipino fighters during World War II. They refused to surrender even when faced with insurmountable odds.
Philippines has one of the most diverse climates in the world, which makes it difficult for any foreign army to invade. First, because there are around 7,000 islands that would need to be taken over. Second, because there are so many different kinds of terrain and climate zones that invaders would have to traverse--from beaches and
swamps to mountains and rain forests--in order to control all of them.
Third, because the people who live here speak over 120 languages and dialects. And fourth, because Filipinos have been resisting invasion ever since they were conquered by Spanish conquistadors more than 400 years ago! When World War II began, American General Douglas MacArthur told Filipino soldiers that if they agreed to fight against their Japanese occupiers alongside U.S troops, he would return the country’s independence after Japan was defeated. When the war ended with Japan's surrender but without General MacArthur's promise being kept (instead independence came as part of an agreement with North America), Filipinos took up arms again to get their sovereignty back--fighting and dying on battlefields from Korea
and Vietnam to Afghanistan.
The terrain of the Philippines is rugged, with high mountain ranges and narrow coastal plains. The three largest island groups are Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Of these three groups, two regions in Luzon are considered highlands because they don't touch any sea: Cordillera Central (in the center) and Sierra Madre (along the eastern coast). These two regions have a lot of streams and rivers that lead into lakes and swamps on their way down to Manila Bay. To move through this area would be difficult for a large invading force due to flooding and steep cliffs. There's also rice fields everywhere as well as forests that provide plenty of hiding places for guerrilla fighters. In some parts of the country, there are no roads so only foot soldiers or horses could go through. In addition to the difficulties traveling through this country, the Filipino army is extremely brave and tough which makes them good at defending themselves against an invasion. If a country tried attacking them by land, they would find that guerrillas could attack from both hillsides, then when enemy troops went up one side, guerrilla forces could shoot at them from behind once they reached the top .
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