Amid escalating tensions between the United States and China in the Indo-Pacific region, the governor of the Northern Mariana Islands, a US territory, is throwing his support behind an $800 million military upgrade plan that includes the construction of a new airfield on the tiny island of Tinian. Governor Arnold Palacios says the defense developments are necessary to counter the growing threat posed by China’s aggressive posturing in the region.
“The world is changing in the Indo-Pacific and we need to acknowledge that. We need to face reality,” Governor Palacios told a reputable news outlet in an exclusive interview. He emphasized that while everyone would like to see peace prevail, “the best deterrent is to have a good defense and to be prepared.”
Mounting Concerns Over China’s Military Moves
Governor Palacios’ stance comes in the wake of China’s recent missile tests over the Pacific Ocean and deployment of forces around the waters of Taiwan, moves that have raised alarm bells in capitals across the region. “That’s the first chain of violence. We’re the second chain of violence. If something happens, we will be impacted,” the governor warned.
The incoming Trump administration’s approach to the Indo-Pacific strategy, originally rolled out under President Biden in 2022, remains to be seen. However, recent appointments suggest that a hawkish policy towards China is likely to continue. The strategy seeks to bolster the US position in the region to counter what it calls the “mounting challenge” posed by China.
Tinian: From WWII Battleground to 21st Century Defense Hub
Tinian, a mere 101 square kilometers in size and home to just 3,500 people, is no stranger to conflict. During World War II, it served as a launchpad for the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Now, the US military is gearing up to transform the island once again.
Over the next few years, the Pentagon plans to pour nearly $800 million into defense operations on Tinian, including the restoration of an abandoned airfield and the construction of training facilities for combat operations in tropical environments. Work is already underway, with the first phase slated for completion in 2025.
“The construction work on Tinian is part of a broader initiative to expand facilities and general port and airport options throughout the Indo-Pacific region,” explained Lt. Cmdr. Michelle Tucker, spokesperson for the Joint Task Force-Micronesia, a newly formed command overseeing US military operations in the Pacific.
A Delicate Balancing Act
Analysts say the Tinian developments make strategic sense as part of a wider US military buildup across the Pacific, aimed at deterring Chinese aggression. However, some caution that the moves could also be seen as provocative and easily neutralized by China in the event of a major confrontation.
For Governor Palacios and the people of the Northern Mariana Islands, the hope is that the military upgrades will help maintain a delicate balance of power in the region. “We hope that things will get dialed down and everybody finally figures out that we need to all get along in the region. We cannot afford to be afraid,” he said.
As the US and China continue their high-stakes dance in the Indo-Pacific, the tiny island of Tinian finds itself once again at the center of great power rivalries – a pawn in a much larger geopolitical struggle with far-reaching consequences for the region and the world.
