 |
SNS: Asia Letter: Q1 2024 JAPAN'S DUAL-USE SPACE PROGRAM By Scott Foster _____ When they say it's a priority, but they don't take action on it and can be delayed a year or two year [sic], nobody knows, we don't like uncertainty. - David Panuelo, Former President, Federated States of Micronesia (South China Morning Post, 12/2/23) Panuelo was talking about the failure of the US Congress to fund the extension of the Compacts of Free Association (COFA) that form the basis of relations with the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau. The $7.1 billion in economic aid agreed to by the Biden administration has been lost in the shuffle during the budget dispute. The livelihood of our nation hinges upon approval of the extension of our treaty, which has expired as of the end of September. - Ibid. Or perhaps it hinges on economic assistance from China, which would be more than happy to replace the US in the islands of the Western Pacific. If the US isn't willing to help them with the things that they care about - schools, healthcare - then there's an opening for them to ask themselves legitimately, frankly, why are we doing this? - Cleo Paskal, Non-Resident Senior Fellow for the Indo-Pacific, Doing what? Relying on the US. |
