Relations between the Philippines and China was special owing to the support of the people of both nations to each other's struggles.
After the Philippines had freed itself from foreign rule. Chinese leaders had used the Philippines as an overseas base from where they could get military supplies for their revolution. They were one of the first to purchase from the budding small arms industry of the country.
The Chinese assistance during the Great War helped The Philippines get valuable intelligence on European weapons, especially the tanks and aircraft.
Most importantly, their assistance during the worst the pandemic when they gathered volunteers to assist the Philippines in caring for the sick and handling of the dead.
Trade between the two nations flourished in the 1920s despite local conflicts within China. This is greatly helped by the Filipino-Chinese community in the country, especially in Binondo and Cebu through their ancestral ties, and similar cultures making them an indispensable link for the two countries.
In contrast, The Philippine's relations with Japan slowly started to sour as Japan started becoming more militaristic after their army's influence took hold over the government.
Relations took a dive when Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931. This prompted congress to investigate every deal the government has with the country, led by the Foreign Affairs Committee of Representative Gilberto Dizon who has been very a persistent voice calling for an end to further cooperation with the Japanese.
The Representative, and some of his colleagues had been warning the government about what they perceived as destabilizing actions of Japan against China and had called on the President to criticize such imperialistic actions.
After Japan created the puppet state of Manchukuo, the Philippines declared it did not recognize the state and demanded that Manchuria be returned to China.
As if in response to the demand, a number Filipinos working in Japan were deported without explanation and Japanese companies in the Philippines laid-off their Filipino workers giving "downsizing of operations" as their reason while hiring their citizens to replace the Filipinos.
Furthering the straining of relations, the Committee on Trade and Committe on Foreign Affairs put forward bills imposing stricter regulations and surveillance on Japanese citizens and companies reasoning that they are a potential national security risk stating that Japan's civilian government has lost its power over the armed forces.
Official Japanese response to the demand took on an aggressive tone. First stating that Japan had acted in self-defense and the occupation was necessary for Japan's security and ending with a statement that The Philippines has no business demanding Japan with regards to its defense.
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Concerning the national defense, the navy's destroyer program is put on-hold as the government stopped all cooperation with Japan for fears of espionage. The Isla class is ordered to be redesigned on suspicions that a hidden weakness might have been introduced.
The Defense Committee of the National Assembly, with the attendance of the Secretary of Defense, and the heads of the army, and navy discussed making changes to the expansion programs of both branches of the armed forces.
The navy proposed the creation of aircraft carrier fleets as a counter to the growing number of aircraft carriers fielded by the Imperial Japanese Navy numbering 4 operational carriers and at least 2 under construction.
Three carrier fleets will be added to the earlier expansion program necessitating the construction of more destroyers to complement the carriers.
The navy justified this aggressive expansion by mentioning the suspicions of the West towards the country due to the government's support for communist groups in their territories.
Then adding the fact that the country basically antagonized Japan by siding with China on the case of Manchuria.
The country is now surrounded by potential enemies.
The carrier fleets, they added, will enhance the country's defense capabilities. Their mobility means they could provide additional air support wherever needed
The Secretary of Defense, Samuel Jumawan supported the navy by briefing the committee on the progress of the aircraft program with the mention of a working prototype soon to be named the 'Agila'.
He proposed fast-tracking the creation of airfields and the expansion of Industria Aviones' production capabilities while mentioning plans to partner with the local private sector to further enhance production.
As for the army, they proposed the quick expansion of the tank and artillery forces including the production of equipment.
The Victoria I tank, designed and developed by Compañía Guillermo y Tolentino.
The C1 14in artillery and the K1 air-defense gun produced by Industria Defensa Del Norte, formerly the Compañía de armas de Las Islas Filipinas.
The army also proposed the construction of inland and coastal defenses, with priority given to coastal areas of Manila Bay, Iloilo Strait, the Cebu Strait, and Davao Gulf.
The proposals surprised the committee as this will entail a three to four-fold increase in the defense budget for the next decade, which the country will struggle to afford.
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After a lot of back and forth, a solution has been reached for the budget with the project slated to span 15 years. Normally, it should take 20-25 years given the country's budget and industrial capacity, but the immediate need to secure the country had to be taken into consideration.
The army's proposals would take priority as the first stage. Using a worst-case scenario of losing the entire navy, the army will fall back to existing doctrines of making the invaders shed blood for every inch of land they take.
Alongside would be the expansion of dockyards in preparation for the navy's requirements. Research funding on the aircraft carrier specifications and designs of carrier aircraft as well as the new design of the destroyers are given on this stage.
Proposals for the huge incentives and tax exemptions to be given to Compañía Guillermo y Tolentino and Industria Defensa Del Norte has been approved to allow both companies to start and expand their capabilities to produce the tanks, artillery, anti-aircraft guns and the 'Agila' aircraft.
In order to prevent the two companies from monopolizing production, all existing and future research involving military weapons will be bought by the government. Companies interested in manufacturing military hardware are required to partner with the military.
The second stage would be for the Navy's requirements, starting with the construction of the first of three aircraft carriers, given that its research and the dockyard capable of building the ship are completed.
As the country had already built 3 destroyers and 4 submarines by the time the National Assembly approved the proposal, the navy will need to construct 36 more destroyers and 14 more submarines to complete its new naval expansion program.
Funding for the construction of 12 destroyers and 4 submarines given at this stage. The construction of an airfield in Subic and Panay Island are also included.
The third stage aims to complete construction another 12 destroyers. 4 more submarines, and the second of the three carriers. Construction of additional submarine bases are included in this stage as well as an airbase in the State of Cagayan.
The fourth stage aims to complete the naval expansion program by constructing the remaining 12 destroyers, 6 submarines and the last of the three carriers. This stage also includes constructing airfields in Samar Island, and the States of Zamboanga and Southern Mindanao
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Alternate Philippine History 1898 (Hiatus)
Historical FictionWhat would happen if history took a different course back in 1898 and the Filipino revolutionaries learning of the secret negotiation between the American and Spanish forces in Manila? How will the future of the Philippines change?
