U.S. Preparing the Philippines for War with China?

In this episode, Carl Zha joins the show to examine why the United States is expanding its military presence in the Philippines, how drone warfare is reshaping modern conflict, and what these developments mean for China and the broader Indo-Pacific region. The conversation explores the lessons of the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, the growing importance of inexpensive drones in modern combat, and whether Washington is shifting toward proxy conflicts as direct military confrontation becomes increasingly costly. Carl also discusses the historical role of the Philippines in U.S. strategy, the economic pressures facing Southeast Asia after disruptions to global energy markets, and why he believes the balance of power in Asia is changing. Topics Covered Why drones are transforming modern warfare The U.S. military buildup in the Philippines Is the Philippines becoming "Asia's Ukraine"? China's response to American strategy Proxy wars vs. direct military confrontation Energy prices and Southeast Asia The Strait of Hormuz's impact on Asia U.S. decline and the rise of a multipolar world South China Sea tensions explained The future of U.S.-China competition ⏱ Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:57 Why drones have changed modern warfare 03:20 The Philippines and America's China strategy 05:40 Domestic politics behind Manila's decisions 07:10 Energy prices hitting Southeast Asia 09:30 Why the Strait of Hormuz matters 11:00 Is the U.S. losing influence in Asia? 13:00 Historical perspective on the South China Sea 16:20 Proxy wars vs. direct conflict 20:00 Is America becoming more desperate? 22:30 The "Suez Crisis" comparison 24:40 Sleepwalking toward World War? 27:10 China's role after the Iran agreement 30:00 Belt and Road opportunities in Iran 33:00 Could China provide security guarantees? 36:00 Final thoughts You can follow Carl Zha on Twitter: https://x.com/CarlZha you'd like to support the channel / 如果你想支持我的频道: ☕ Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/carlzha8 🅿️ Patreon:   / silknsteel   💳 PAYPAL DONATIONS: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/CarlZha