One of the new agreements with the United States is designed to help counter Chinese political warfare attacks on Palau. The initial cost to the United States is $2.2 million, exactly the sort of low-cost counter to China’s ability to disrupt and degrade the economy, politics and society of a key U.S. ally that is needed.
Iran’s oil exports in September 2025 reached their highest monthly level of the year, according to TankerTrackers, highlighting the continued shortcomings of international sanctions enforcement. Tehran...
Tehran continues to export oil and acquire new customers despite approaching deadlines for the snapback of United Nations sanctions. Although Iranian oil exports reached their lowest level of the year...
China needs to be emplaced in CNMI if it is going to take Taiwan. Usually the focus is on Guam, but widen the geographic aperture and it’s clear that whatever applies to Guam applies equally to CNMI. And Beijing knows it.
Federated States of Micronesia President Wesley Simina officiated the May 26 groundbreaking ceremony for the reconstruction of the Woleai airport runway. ...
If China goes after Taiwan without ‘disabling’ Palau, its Taiwan operation could be jeopardized. Which is one of the reasons the U.S. is putting new military infrastructure, or, in some cases, bringing back to life World War II era infrastructure, in Palau.
China in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands
China’s role in the region is a constant pressure in one direction. New Zealand and Australian policies towards the region have been naive at best, and the situation was worsened by U.S. State Department following Canberra and Wellington’s lead.
For all the regional talk of “Pacific family” and “friends to all enemies to none” who did – and who didn’t – show up for the Jan. 16 inauguration of Palau President Surangel S. Whipps Jr....
We have a country that is geopolitically sophisticated, with close ties to the U.S., Japan and Taiwan, and is in a highly strategic location. So who showed up to Palau’s party, and who didn’t?
There is a spike in activity now because China sees Palau’s 5 November election as an opportunity to put in place representatives that are more in line with its ambitions.
There is a lot going on in the Republic of Palau, a country of over 300 islands and around 20,000 people southeast of the Philippines. Its strategic location has meant Palau has been subject to waves of...
The U.S. Treasury Department announced new sanctions targeting entities affiliated with Iranian proxy terrorist groups in Yemen and Lebanon engaged in the smuggling of Iranian commodities....
Excerpt Guam and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)—constituent parts of the United States—sit in such proximity to the Asian coast that the CNMI shares a maritime border with Japan....
U.S. naval forces rescued a civilian crew from a Greek-owned merchant ship struck by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command said on June 16....
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What does it mean for the FSM to tell China it opposes AUKUS and supports the Global Security Initiative?
Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands are the United States’ closest allies. And they’re essential for a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Tony Zielinski is a regular American citizen, who was enjoying his life in Florida. Then he read about the problems with the renewals of key elements of the Compacts of Free Association with Palau, the...