Name: Luranza, Honey Faye

Q1. There are a few key reasons why the United States was interested in maintaining military
bases in the Philippines:

1. Strategic location to counter China's influence and presence in the region. The
Philippines' location in the South China Sea, close to Taiwan, made it a strategically
important location for the U.S. to project military power and counter China's growing
assertiveness in the region. The U.S. wanted to reinforce an "arc of military presence"
around China.
2. Longstanding military alliance and colonial history. The U.S. had maintained a military
presence in the Philippines since the late 19th century, when it took control of the
Philippines from Spain. This led to a deep military alliance and dependence, even as the
Philippines gained independence after WWII.
3. Containing the spread of communism during the Cold War. During the Cold War, the
U.S. viewed the Philippines, under the Marcos regime, as an important anti-communist
ally. Maintaining military bases there was seen as crucial to containing the spread of
communism in the region.
4. Logistical and operational benefits for the U.S. military. The U.S. bases provided
logistical support, training facilities, and operational advantages for the U.S. military in
the Pacific region. This included the large naval base at Subic Bay.

The Philippines' strategic location, longstanding military alliance, geopolitical

importance during the Cold War, and operational benefits for the U.S. military were key
factors driving the U.S. interest in maintaining a military presence there, even after the
Philippines sought to remove the bases in the early 1990s.

Q2. The top economies listed by the World Economic Forum in Geneva share several common
characteristics:
1. Emphasis on innovation and technological readiness.
2. Strong education systems and high levels of human capital.

3. Efficient goods, labor, and financial market.

4. Transparent and effective public institutions.

5. Focus on research and development, fostering collaboration between academia and the
private sector.

6. Macroeconomic stability and sound financial markets.

These commonalities contribute to the competitiveness and success of these top economies,
allowing them to excel in areas such as innovation, education, market efficiency, and
institutional transparency as highlighted by the World Economic Forum's assessments.