Palau officials welcome U.S. troops for
exercises, but not for permanent bases
By Donovan Brooks, Guam
bureau chief
Donovan Brooks / Stripes file photo
A Palauan boy casts a fishing line as a small boat carries passengers across the K-B
bridge channel, following the bridge's collapse in 1996. |
FINEGAYAN — While Palau might be a nice place for U.S. forces to visit, officials
don’t want them to live there, yet.
Palau officials said Wednesday they aren’t considering permanent bases for U.S.
forces, although they do welcome port visits and training exercises.
A recent resolution introduced in Palau’s legislature called for Palau President
Tommy Remengesau to offer sites for a base for U.S. Marines now deployed to Okinawa,
Japan.
But the move isn’t even an issue, a government spokesman said.
"Palauans are not discussing this, and we’re certainly not talking to the
U.S. about it," said Palau Presidential Chief of Staff Billy Kuartei.
The Marine presence in Okinawa has been an issue for years, with some Okinawan
political leaders calling for a reduction in U.S. forces.
Marine officials acknowledge a reduction is possible, provided adequate, alternate
training areas are available. A Marine survey team made a recent swing through Guam,
Saipan and Tinian to assess their potential as training areas, but did not stop on Palau,
Navy spokeswoman Lt. Monica Richardson said.
Lt. Gen. Earl Hailston, the top Marine in Japan, said last week that Guam, Saipan and
Tinian aren’t big enough to handle a division of 5,000 Marines training at once.
Palau has less total land area than Guam.
However, Palauans are talking about the planned visit by the Navy’s USS Frederick,
and the money it will bring to the local economy.
"That’s the kind of stuff we’re interested in. Palau has repeatedly
asked for port calls," Kuartei said.
Senate president Seit Andres said Palau’s 1994 compact gives the United States the
right to use parts of the tropical archipelago for land and air training. Since the end of
World War II, Palau had been a United Nations protectorate, administered by the United
States.
Palau has about 190 square miles of land spread out over 200 islands, and is a diving
paradise with a growing tourism industry.
Legislative house speaker Mario Guilibert said under the compact, parts of Babeldaup,
the largest island, can be used for land-based training. The island is 88 square miles.
Palau’s ports can be jointly used by the military, and an airstrip built during World
War II on the island of Angaur can be used for air training, Andres said.
American forces battled and defeated Japanese forces entrenched in Palau toward the end
of the war.
"We have a close relationship with the U.S. We will continue to do so,"
Guilibert said.
Guilibert said he has not participated in any legislative discussion over the
resolution, but he would support a U.S. initiative to review the issue.
Although Palau could see significant economic benefits from a more-permanent military
presence, Andres was hesitant to let go of limited land resources, considering
Palau’s growing population.
He also said he is concerned about the social and cultural impact such a change could
have.
"Small-scale is OK. Palau is small," Andres said.
About 24,000 people live on Palau, mostly near the capital and business center of
Koror.
Kuartei said the legislative resolution was proposed at a time when U.S. officials were
on Palau conducting an economic consultation, as a way of illustrating potential industry.
"Our position is that the U.S. has no plans to use Palau for defense,"
Kuartei said.
Under the compact, a military construction team is assigned to Palau. The 13-member
team provides engineering and construction expertise, training and equipment for projects
that benefit Palau’s community. Palau provides the materials and labor.
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