of power. By the mid- 1950s, however, the “Huk rebellion” had been crushed by the Philippine government, assisted by the U.S. In , the Tydings–McDuffie Act (The Philippines Independence Act) provided a ten year period for transferring power to Filipinos. During this period the United States could maintain military bases in the Philippines, and control foreign policy.
This Act was ratified by a plebiscite in . From to Quezon was President of the Philippines. Immediately Quezon after the Pearl Harbour attack, Japan attacked the Philippines. The conquest of the Philippines by Japan is often considered the worst military defeat in United States history.
About , American military personnel were killed or captured, while Filipino soldiers killed or captured totalled around , . Philippines Independence After ending the aggression of Japan, the US honoured its promise given in the Act. In April elections were held, and on July the Philippines became independent. USA left the Philippines but provided military training and financial support against Huks between and .
Throughout the period the country was one of the USA’s most loyal allies. The country was one of only three Asian states to join the US-dominated South East Asian Treaty Organisation (SEATO) in .