The Geo-strategic challenges and competition over the past few years between the United States of America and China have had a huge impact on the Pacific Islands.
This was highlighted by a former Member of the U.S. Congress and president of the University of Guam, Dr. Robert Underwood during the Pacific Elders’ Voice conference at the FNU Nasinu Campus.
Dr. Underwood says we live under the notion that in any kind of conflict between China and the United States, Guam will be the first community to get attacked and the solution to this is to beef up the military rather than thinking of other ways of resolving conflicts.
He says this conflict is seen by the US and China as critical to their future, dominance, presence and their future in the Pacific Ocean so they look at it as an area to have a contest in and where there are resources they can compete for.
Dr. Underwood says the Geo-strategic competition really poses an important question for all Pacific Islanders and that is if we just want to get punched when large countries are actually making their decisions.
He says ironically it is connected to climate change and there are greenhouses across the world and at the same time there are those countries that are also flexing their muscles and it is really important to understand that choices will be made by the younger generations.
Dr. Underwood says we shall be asking the question of who are we as the people of the Pacific and who shall we be?
He further says the issues are presented in an interesting way and sometimes they are like asking you to pick a side when the real question is “Are you really going to pick a future for yourself?”
He also says sometimes the question is “who is going to give you more money?” when the question is “who can respect your integrity and independence the most.”
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