The governor of the Northern Mariana Islands says an $800 million U.S. military buildup plan that includes new airfields in the Pacific territory “must happen” amid concerns over China's recent missile tests in the region. .
Tinian, with a population of approximately 3,500 people, is one of the three major islands of the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, an unincorporated territory of the United States. During World War II, the United States launched nuclear bombs against Japan from Tinian, and Tinian is currently undergoing a major renovation of its dilapidated airfield and other military upgrades.
The development is part of the US government's broader strategy to strengthen its security presence in the Indo-Pacific region amid rising tensions in the region.
“The world is changing in the Indo-Pacific region, and we need to recognize that. We need to face reality,” said Northern Mariana Islands Governor Arnold Palacios, adding that the defense base on Tinian Island He added that development “must happen”.
“As it stands, it needs to be,” he told the Guardian.
“Do you wish there were no military bases? I think everyone in the world wants peace, but the best deterrent is good defense and preparedness.”
Palacios pointed to concerns over China's recent missile tests in the Pacific Ocean and the deployment of troops around Taiwan's waters.
“This is the first chain of violence. We are the second chain of violence. If something happens, we will also be affected,” he said.
It is not yet clear how the incoming Trump administration will coordinate Biden's Indo-Pacific region. strategyHowever, recent personnel changes suggest a hawkish policy towards China. The Indo-Pacific Plan, announced in 2022, aims to strengthen the United States' position in the region amid a “changing strategic landscape,” particularly the “growing challenges” posed by China.
Located approximately 2,414 km (1,500 miles) south of Tokyo, Tinian Island has an area of 101 square kilometers (39 square miles). During World War II, it was used as a base for B-29 Superfortress bombers, which participated in the Tokyo air raids in March 1945 and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945.
Tinian is known for its pristine beaches, cattle ranches, and chili peppers, which grow abundantly throughout the island. It is dotted with historical sites that attract tourists interested in World War II.
The U.S. Department of Defense plans to invest nearly $800 million in Tinian over the next few years to enhance defense operations. Work is expected to begin in 2022 and the first phase of the project, which includes an updated runway, is expected to be completed in 2025.
Lt. Col. Michelle Tucker, a spokeswoman for the Joint Task Force Micronesia, said the U.S. Air Force is repairing more than 1.85 meters squared (20 meters square feet) of degraded pavement to create a “revitalized runway.” . This task force is a newly established command that oversees military operations in the Pacific.
Tucker said Air Force engineers are conducting “remediation work” on Tinian to allow the U.S. to “rapidly deploy and sustain forces in diverse environments.”
The neighboring island of Guam is at the heart of the U.S. military's Indo-Pacific strategy and is home to bases for the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps. Tucker said the Northern Mariana Islands are part of the United States and “critical to our defense and power projection throughout the region.”
Given Tinian's strategic location, Tucker said, Tinian is considered a backup base to “meet the mission requirements” of the U.S. military supporting Guam and other Pacific bases. .
“Construction work on Tinian is part of a broader effort to expand facilities and general port and airport options across the Indo-Pacific region,” Tucker said.
The United States leases two-thirds of Tinian's land for defense and military development. In addition to the $384 million airport renovation project, the Department of Defense also contracted $409 million for operational and training development, including equipment, facilities, and other related projects to support the island's military. The Pentagon also plans to build a combat skills training range on Tinian.
Mr. Tucker said the proposed military training facility would include multiple firing ranges, landing zones and base camps, providing realistic joint combat training for service members in a tropical environment.
Mr. Tucker said the United States is also exploring the possibility of improving the waterfront and piers at the Tinian port's pier “to accommodate a variety of naval vessels.”
Michael Walsh, a visiting researcher at Ludwig Maximilian University's Ludwig Center for Transatlantic Research in Munich, said it makes sense for the US military to strengthen its capabilities on Tinian as part of a region-wide “network”. .
“What is being planned could be of great value in terms of strategic signaling and deterrence,” he said, but added, “If a major conflict breaks out, It could easily be neutralized by China.”
Palacios said the current environment necessitates defense development for Tinian.
“I hope that this situation settles down and that everyone finally understands that we need to get along within our communities. We can't afford to be afraid.”
