US Defense Secretary Mark Esper visited the island nation in september 2020
and accused the PRC of ongoing destabilizing activities in the indo-pacific.
Palauan President Thomas Romansau told esper that the u.s military was
welcome to build facilities in his country an archipelago about 1,500
kilometers east of the philippines.
Palau's request to the US Military remains simple, build joint use
facilities then come and use them regularly, he said in a letter to the u.s
defense chief. The note said the nation of 22,000 was open to hosting land
bases port facilities and airfields.
Ramengsau also suggested a u.s coast guard presence in palau to help patrol
its vast marine reserve which is difficult for the nation to monitor. While
Palau is an independent nation, it has no military and the u.s is
responsible for its defense under an agreement called the compact of free
association.
Under the deal, the u.s military has access to the islands. although it has
no troops permanently stationed there.
We should use the mechanisms of the compact to establish a regular u.s
military presence in palau. Ramensau said adding that bases would increase
u.s military preparedness and help the local economy which is struggling as
the pandemic has halted tourism its main industry.
In addition to its close u.s ties palau is one of taiwan's four allies in
the pacific. The chinese communist party which sees taiwan as part of its
territory has tried to win over taipei's allies in the pacific, persuading
the Solomon Islands and kiribati to switch sides in 2019.
Palau has refused, prompting the prc to effectively ban chinese tourists
from visiting the island in 2018.
"It would appear that president remengsau sees this in part as a potential
economic solution to counter-palau significant dependence on tourism,
including chinese tourism," said Anna Powells an expert in pacific security
at New Zealand's massey university.
While not naming the prc ramensau told esper that destabilizing actors have
already stepped forward to take advantage of the virus-related economic
crises that small island nations are experiencing.
