章 654: Chapter 497: Cooperation

As of 1919, the population of the Philippines had already exceeded 10 million, to be exact, it had reached just over 10.53 million.

If it weren't for the data from later generations, Arthur would not believe that this country would increase its population by 11 times in just a hundred years, and even achieve a population of 114 million in 2023, ranking 13th in the world and one of the most populated countries in Southeast Asia, second only to the future Indonesia, which is now the Dutch East Indies region.

A region that can accommodate hundreds of millions of people is also a thorn in America's side in Australasia, and it must be removed.

If the Philippines is managed well, it will become a dumping ground for Australasian products and a source of cheap labor in the future.

At the same time, the Philippines can also serve as the first line of defense against island nations, easing the double pressure Australasia may face from island nations and the United States.