Congress is failing to honor America’s financial commitments to America’s closest allies, turning important friends into drifters.
China is already trying to incorporate the following countries: palau, federation of micronesia and marshall islands.
If Beijing succeeds, its military will control vast swaths of the Pacific. The three republics include: Over 1,000 islands and atolls Covers more ocean than the continental United States
As a result, Chinese troops stationed at new ports and bases would be in a position to block American ships and aircraft, both civilian and military, from crossing those waters. Additionally, China would acquire facilities that would put U.S. territories such as Hawaii and Guam within range.
These three countries were once United Nations Trust Territories administered by the United States. Now they are sovereign; agreement of free association From a defense and national security perspective, they are almost integral to the United States. Among other things, the agreement gives the United States the right to deny other countries access to their territorial waters and airspace.
All three agreements were renegotiated last year; 20 year extension.
However, Congress has not funded the U.S. obligations included in the new deal. Unfortunately, despite strong bipartisan support, funding for the three states was not included in his 2024 budget. National Defense Authorization Actpassed in December.
The issue is currently embroiled in controversy over the National Security Supplemental Funding Bill. passed the senate The Senate bill includes $95.3 billion for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, but no funding for compact states.
U.S. financial debt to Pacific nations will total $7.1 billion over the next 20 years. at the moment, Congress only needs to find $2.3 billion To complete the financing of the Compact.
Micronesia and the Marshall Islands currently receive partial funding under reduced funding under the previous continuing resolution. At this time, Palau’s federal funding has been reduced to a minimum.
China took advantage of the confusion in Congress, lobbying leader Beijing’s claim that the three states are abandoning the United States is a not-unreasonable-sounding claim that the dysfunctional U.S. government has become an unreliable partner.
Nowhere is the threat from China more evident than in the far west. Palau’s pro-American president, Srangell Whipps Jr. For re-election In November, he appears to be particularly vulnerable to Chinese money coming in to bring him down.
And the Chinese government has promised Palau a large amount of cash. Proposal to fill all hotel rooms with Chinese tourists and “If more can be built, there will be more.” The Chinese also say they will build a “call center” on the two-acre site.
To access that cash, Palau would need to switch its diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing.Micronesia is already recognize Make the People’s Republic the legitimate government of China. Kiribati and Solomon Islands near Hawaii in 2019 I left Taipei. There is no doubt that Chinese money is a contributing factor in both cases.
Another factor working in Beijing’s favor is fear. China’s friends insist that they do not want these islands to become China’s targets. The threats were effective.
President Whipps called on the United States to permanently install Patriot missile defense batteries to protect against American over-the-horizon radar in his country, but in late November Palau Senate passes resolution rejecting battery. at the same time, China proposes building a hotel and casino near radar facility.
Cleo Pascal of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies told me: [Palau] It is a military target and does nothing for our schools or health care. ”
The Chinese government has big ambitions regarding Palau, Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands.
“China wants all three compact states to withdraw from the agreement,” Pascal said. “Beijing wants to have a Chinese embassy on the island, essentially functioning as a forward operating base.”
“At sea, there will be a Chinese dual-use fishing fleet that controls millions of square miles along maritime shipping lanes between the United States and its allies in Asia,” she continued. “A hostile navy would have a safe harbor for its submarines and surface combatants.”
Recent takeover by China solomon islandsThe site of the epic Battle of Guadalcanal in World War II, this site is a warning of what China has in store for the three compact nations. China is well on its way to turning the Solomon Islands’ once-thriving democracy into an authoritarian state by lavishing cash payments on officials and lawmakers.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, a new friend of the Chinese government, ran the government in what opposition leaders rightly called 2022. “Seize power” This is to get Congress to postpone the next general election.
China is turning the Pacific Ocean into its own sanctuary, casinos and island groups. And Congress is satisfied that by not meeting America’s financial obligations, the Chinese regime is turning America’s most loyal allies against it.
Gordon G. Chan is the author of “The Coming Collapse of China” and “China Heads to War.” Follow him on X (formerly Twitter). @GordonGhang.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
