During World War II, America learned a hard lesson about the strategic importance of the small island nations scattered across the Pacific. Among them is Palau, a nation of just 18,000 people in what’s known as the second island chain. It’s home to the bloodiest battlefield of the Pacific theater, on the island of Peleliu. Today, as the Chinese regime prepares for a possible invasion of Taiwan, Palau finds itself on the front lines again. It's one of only 12 countries that diplomatically recognize Taiwan, and one of only three with a Compact of Free Association with the United States—an agreement that gives the U.S. exclusive military access to Palauan waters in exchange for providing defense, postal service, economic assistance, and other benefits to Palauans. Palau’s strategic position has made it a target. The Chinese Communist Party has ramped up gray-zone tactics and information warfare across the region to pull small Pacific nations away from Taiwan and the United States. In this episode, I’m sitting down with the President of Palau Surangel Whipps Jr. Half-American and half-Palauan and born in Baltimore, Whipps decided to give up his American citizenship to serve as President of his father’s homeland and chart a new course for its development. In this episode, Whipps explains how Palau is defending its sovereignty against foreign encroachment and shares his vision for the country's future. We cover: How has the CCP threatened Palau? How does the Compact of Free Association shape U.S. regional defense strategy? Why is the U.S. military building radar sites on the island? And how can Western private sector investment help secure a free Indo-Pacific?
Source: China Offered Him a Deal. He Said No. | Surangel Whipps Jr.
