Military buildup in the Pacific

Rumblings of potential conflict among nations in the Asia-Pacific region has equally prompted US defense buildup in the Pacific.

There’s China’s sovereign claim of certain islands equally being claimed by the Republic of the Philippines or the nuclear arsenal buildup in North Korea that concerns Japan and South Korea; and Japan’s sovereign claim of another island that runs in conflict with another Pacific island country.

Accusations and counter-accusations of sensitive nuclear material allegedly stolen by China has also cooled US-Sino relations in recent weeks. It’s a case of politically correct agenda on the part of the US while simultaneously US companies and traders register complaints with the federal government that they would be denied certain advantages in trade if current relationship isn’t settled forthwith or if it rises to a level of another cold war.

The Philippines national legislature has narrowly approved joint exercises of its local military force in concert with the US. This action has triggered anti-US military demonstrations among Filipinos who fear of their country being lured into potential war with the People’s Republic of China. But the national legislative body has approved what it once disapproved effectively leading to the closure of Subic Bay and Clark Air Force Base some ten years ago.

There’s also the open sale of certain missiles by the Pentagon to Taiwan, a show of another defense buildup, which sends a message to mainland China that the US would be around to protect it from any form of aggression. All these have prompted significant buildup and presence of the US in the Asia-Pacific region. It reignites and reminds the people of the Northern Marianas of its strategic importance in potential conflicts in neighboring Asia.

We’ve also learned that the US Department of Defense would be spending more than $80 million in infrastructure and other improvements on Guam’s Anderson Air Force base. The role and contribution of the military into the economy of our southern neighbor is about 34 percent of its total economic activity. Such contribution cushions Guam’s economy while we ponder of our fate when our detractors effectively ruin both tourism and our apparel industries here.

At any rate, the NMI has demonstrated to many apparel workers hailing from mainland China of the very essence of democracy and that the answer to regional conflict isn’t kabum diplomacy, but more democracy, with or without significant military buildup.