The strategic and political cases for retaking the Philippines

Was retaking the Philippines a better choice than invading Taiwan?

Perhaps not in hindsight on strategic grounds, but politically the Philippines decision probably made sense at the time.

The question contrasts returning to the Philippines with invading Taiwan during the Pacific War. The answer deliberately separates military hindsight from wartime politics. With later knowledge, the Philippines choice may not look strategically optimal. In the political circumstances of the time, however, retaking the islands is judged understandable and probably necessary, showing how commitments and legitimacy can outweigh a cleaner operational calculation.