You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly. You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
alternatehistory.com
Germany had a desire for the Philippines. Let's say the US doesn't bother taking the islands during the Spanish-American War and the indebted Spanish sell the place to the Germans. The Germans proceed to spend a decade or so asserting authority over the islands.
Flash-forward to WWI, and Japan grabs the Philippines.
Might this satiate Japanese expansionism? Asserting authority over and modernizing the archipelago would be a time-intensive and costly endeavor.