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Last week, US Defense Secretary Mark Esper visited Palau and accused Beijing of conducting “destabilizing operations” in the Pacific.
Palau President Tommy Remengesau later said that he told Esper’s secretary that US troops can go to Palau to build military facilities. The Palau Islands are located about 1,500 km east of the Philippines.
“Palau’s proposal to the US military is very simple: build a shared facility, then come and use it regularly,” President Remengesau said of the letter he sent to the defense secretary that his office announced this week.
The letter said the nation of 22,000 was willing to allow the US military to build military installations on land, seaports and airports.
Remengesau also suggested that the US Coast Guard come to Palau to help patrol the vast waters of this country, with an area equal to Spain that the small island nation could not handle.
Although it is an independent country, Palau does not have an army and the United States is in charge of the country’s defense under the Treaty of Free Links.
Under the agreement, the US military had access to the islands of Palau, although the United States has not been stationed there so far.
“We should use the mechanisms of the Treaty to establish a regular US military presence in Palau,” Remengesau said.
“The right of the US military to establish a military base in the Republic of Palau is regulated by the Treaty; the agreement has not been fully used so far,” he added.
The Palau leader said the Palau bases will not only help increase the US military preparations, but will also help support the local economy, amid the archipelago struggling with the 19-ton COVID pandemic. Tourism industry and also the main lucrative industry in this country.
The United States had planned to build a military radar installation in Palau, but the plan was halted due to COVID-19, as Palau wanted not to be attacked by the plague.
Not just close to the US, Palau is also one of Taiwan’s four remaining allies in the Pacific.
China is trying to cut off Taipei’s diplomatic ties with its Pacific allies and has so far succeeded in persuading the Solomon Islands and Kiribati to switch sides. However, Palau declined the invitation, prompting Beijing to ban people from visiting the islands.
Although he did not directly mention China, President Remengesau told Esper that “destabilizing factors are increasing to capitalize on” the pandemic-related economic crisis that small island nations are experiencing. by.
“Secretary, it is wonderful to know that you and other top American officials see the complex realities of Indo-Pacific security threatened by business. predatory economy and military aggression, ”Remengesau wrote.
During Esper’s three-hour visit to Palau last week, Remengesau said China is offering concessional loans to Palau to keep it loyal to Beijing.
theo CNA
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