[Jumper]

They wanted to be independent, to sell off US military bases to the Japanese for developments. Now the politicans have lined their pockets and the PI is defenseless and in "Harm's Way" again. This time around this is no McArthur who Grandfather had a Brewery, or the stomach in the US to defend Luzon from predators, hence we have seen Chicom Island building/hopping.

Maybe someone will do a subsurface nuc-burst causing a wave to wipe out each of Chi-com Suzi's illegal islands. Then the USMC can go in and render aid to survivors and plant the US Flag.

[Tallguy]

1 SSN could basically wipe out every single Chinese atoll with a barrage of cruise missiles. So these bases are essentially pawns on the Pacific chessboard. Not very useful when a shooting war breaks out. But then this is about controlling resources and shippie lanes.