North Korea has an ailing tyrant. North Korea has nuclear weapons. North Korea is near China. North Korea has recently done 'successful' test launches.
Even if I'm not a president or general, I smell blood. War is coming. Of sorts. Or at the very least, the fear that's being generated by the situation will require vigilance and armaments.
If I'm a weapon's manufacturer, I would already be hearing the roar of the cash registers.
Enter US. The world's biggest weapons manufacturer.
They're feeling the heat from North Korea. At the same time, they also feel the allure of the cash register. They need a base that can serve as an outpost, as well as a weapons cache should their 'allies' have a sudden need for weaponry.
What's a good place where they can locate this that near enough to be commercially viable but far enough to keep America safe from any war casualties. Hmnnn.....
Hey! The Philippines! The former colony who still desperately wants approval. If we can have a base in Mindanao, we gain a foot hold in Asia! Near enough but far enough. BONUS! Mindanao has a lot of natural resources we can exploit: from virgin forests to oil.
But they kicked our the bases long ago... how do we take root there again?!
Aha! Play the terrorism card! Strike fear! Bomb key areas in Mindanao so that country will be begging us to come back & protect them. It helps that current president is also an eager beaver who's assailed left and right politically. Hmn...
Send the CIA head there to assess the situation....
I desperately pray that they won't succeed in their endeavor. But I will not be surprised that before elections next year, they've managed to insinuate themselves back into this country.
