Nothing. I was just defending myself from Someguy´s claim that it was corruption that broke up a national association and I was wrong to suggest it was economic considerations. What cause a nation, Philippines included, to break away from one association to another is relevant to the thread. (I had suggested that eventually (100 years or so) the growing economic strength of China vs the decline of US economic strength would seduce Philippines to lose association with China, perhaps even under the one China, two system plan.)