Palau is pictured
Palau used the entry of Chinese ships into its exclusive economic zone as an excuse to demand the presence of U.S. troops and the construction of a perimeter in the Pacific. In the past two days, the Pacific island nation of Palau suddenly began to touch porcelain China and brush its sense of existence. During a visit to Japan, Palau President Hui Shuren complained to foreign journalists that Palau had spotted Chinese vessels in waters near Palau last month, saying they were surveying near fiber-optic cables built in Palau. Hui also revealed that he would raise the issue at the Pacific Islands Forum leaders' meeting in November, stressing that Palau welcomes the increased U.S. military presence and the presence of U.S. troops in Palau.
Palau's sudden touch on porcelain China is clearly encouraged by someone. China and Palau have not established diplomatic relations so far, and in fact Palau is one of the only 13 so-called "countries with diplomatic relations" left by the Taiwan authorities. It is no coincidence that the President of Palau suddenly raised the issue of the presence of American troops at this time.
Palau's President Saranger Whips
Although a sovereign nation, Palau maintains a special relationship with the United States. Back in the nineties, Palau signed the "Pact of Free Association" with the United States. The United States bears full responsibility for Palau's security and defense, not only denying other countries access to or using Palau's territory for military purposes, but even imposing a strategic blockade of its land, airspace and territorial waters, which greatly strengthens the superiority of the United States military in the Pacific. In return, the United States has pledged substantial economic aid from Palau. In addition to Palau, Pacific island countries that have signed similar free association agreements with the United States are the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
China also responded immediately to the accusations made by the President of Palau. According to Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin, relevant Chinese vessels took shelter in relevant waters and did not carry out any marine survey and investigation activities, and China has notified relevant countries about this. However, Palau is obviously pretending to be confused and wants to sing a double reed with the United States and take the opportunity to push the United States to increase its military presence in the Pacific. From Hui Shuren's words, it can be seen that Palau is likely to use the Pacific Islands Forum as a cooperative mechanism to incite the so-called "China threat theory" and cooperate with other Pacific island countries to put pressure on China.
Recent developments in Pacific island countries actually reflect U.S. strategic anxieties. Since China and the Solomon Islands signed a framework agreement on security cooperation in April last year, the nerves of the United States have been deeply stung. Some U.S. strategists began to feel that Washington's influence in the Pacific was declining, and Pacific island countries, which had been ignored by the United States, reappeared on Washington's radar. Ironically, the U.S. Embassy in the Solomon Islands closed after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and just after the agreement was reached, the U.S. Embassy reopened after three decades.
The picture shows Prime Minister Marape of Papua New Guinea
Not only that, the United States has also signed a defense agreement with Papua New Guinea for 15 years. A few days ago, the content of the agreement was exposed, and the result caused great controversy in Papua New Guinea. Because the agreement allows the U.S. military to conduct activities including surveillance, reconnaissance, and troop build-up "without hindrance," it also gives the U.S. exclusive right to criminal jurisdiction over U.S. personnel. This is a great harm to the sovereignty of Papua New Guinea, and more importantly, the agreement is likely to draw the Pacific island nation into the vortex of great power strategic competition. At present, this agreement has not been ratified by the Pakistani parliament, and we hope that Papua New Guinea will make a prudent choice.
The picture shows the US military stationed in the Philippines
From increasing the presence of troops in the Philippines to now lining up troops in Pacific island countries, it can be seen that it is not only the so-called first island chain, but also that the United States is building multiple encirclements against China. In this process, it cannot be ruled out that some small and medium-sized countries want to profit from it and hope to obtain the attention and assistance of the United States. But the cost to these countries is also clear: the rapid accumulation of strategic risks. This is despite the fact that the governments of the Philippines and Papua New Guinea have said that they will not be used as a base for "waging war." However, once they fall into the abyss of great power competition, these countries are likely to find themselves in fact involuntarily. At this point, the lesson of Ukraine is at hand.