Surangel Whipps Jr. describes Palau — which was under U.S. administration for half a century — as a geopolitical ‘bullseye’ due to its strategic location.
America understood why Japan knew Palau was an important "bulls-eye" to control. And control they did. The US Navy came to that same understanding the hard way: Pelelieu battles et al.
Back in the halcion days of the new-smelling U.N. the U.S. started its back-away, too easily and too soon forgetting how and why it was in Palau in the first place. While Surangel Jr. was in USA at UCLA, China was in the waters around Palau. Long before they sent in armies of tourists they sent in fleets of fishing boats. The PRC "claims" and demands are long standing, much longer than the Presidency of Surangel Whipps, Jr. Palau hasn't move. The "bullseye" hasn't moved. But we in the West have taken our eye off the target and off the reason for it being a target in the first place. I hope for Palau's sake and our that Whipps is as good as he seems to be. There will be no opportunity for a Battle of Pelelieu Redux.
Thank you, Jan Jekielek and Frank Fang for a terrific article on the remarkable Republic of Palau 🇵🇼 and its extraordinary President Surangel Whipps Jr.! Thank you, Dr. Martin for republishing it!
America understood why Japan knew Palau was an important "bulls-eye" to control. And control they did. The US Navy came to that same understanding the hard way: Pelelieu battles et al.
Back in the halcion days of the new-smelling U.N. the U.S. started its back-away, too easily and too soon forgetting how and why it was in Palau in the first place. While Surangel Jr. was in USA at UCLA, China was in the waters around Palau. Long before they sent in armies of tourists they sent in fleets of fishing boats. The PRC "claims" and demands are long standing, much longer than the Presidency of Surangel Whipps, Jr. Palau hasn't move. The "bullseye" hasn't moved. But we in the West have taken our eye off the target and off the reason for it being a target in the first place. I hope for Palau's sake and our that Whipps is as good as he seems to be. There will be no opportunity for a Battle of Pelelieu Redux.
Looks like Beijing is doing a Bang Up job of uniting their neighbors...against them.
Indeed they are.
Thank you, Jan Jekielek and Frank Fang for a terrific article on the remarkable Republic of Palau 🇵🇼 and its extraordinary President Surangel Whipps Jr.! Thank you, Dr. Martin for republishing it!