Final answer:
The United States aimed to acquire islands near China to establish a strategic military presence, control shipping routes, and secure resources, all instrumental in expanding trade with China and asserting U.S. power in the region.
Step-by-step explanation:
The United States might want to acquire islands close to China to expand trade with the nation for a number of strategically important reasons. The Philippines' proximity to China, for instance, attracted those who sought to trade with China, wary that otherwise Japan or a European power might seize control. With its history of empire-building, the United States likely sought these acquisitions to establish a strategic military presence in the region, to gain control over key shipping routes crucial for trade, and to secure valuable resources located on the islands. Additionally, these territories could have played a role in strengthening diplomatic ties with China by setting a precedent for cooperative behavior and establishing the United States as a significant power in the region.
Furthermore, key figures in American politics had visions of empire that necessitated the control of strategic locations to influence trade and military maneuverability. The annexation of territories such as Hawaii and the Philippines was part of a broader strategy to open Asian markets to U.S. commerce, particularly the large and important market in China. American business investors and political leaders understood the value of such territories in exercising both economic and military power in the Pacific, necessary for protecting American interests and for competing with other world powers.