The South Pacific might very well be quite a ways away from the United States but that makes it no less important to our, or the free world's safety and security. China is attempting to dominate the region to manipulate, control, overtake and own the countries in the region. Many of these countries are very vulnerable and susceptible to bribes and corruption.
A good place to get a simple and straight-forward overview is by watching 60 Minutes Australia's informative piece entitled, "Investigation: Why is China on the Move in the South Pacific?" (Nov 17, 2019, 22 mins)
It appears that China is playing a game of 'Go', which is China's equivalent to Chess - just with a different strategy. In chess the goal is to take out the king. In Go, the goal is to surround your enemy. If China were to surround Australia, it would inevitably weak, make subservient and end up controlling Australia. This presents a huge risk to all free countries including but not limited to the United States.
The Problem:
China is also attempting to control the waterways in the region as part of its Belt and Road Initiative. This would allow it to control - and thereby own - all goods coming in and out of the region. Although it's a fine strategy for China. It is a hostile enemy takeover attempt to the free world and cannot be allowed to continue.
Here are a few short videos that help to better explain and understand the problems and present dangers in the region:
Why China is building islands in the South China Sea (Vox, Feb. 17, 2017, 7 mins)
South China Sea: 'Leave immediately and keep far off' (BBC News, Aug 11, 2018, 2 mins)
The South China Sea Explained (SpooksAndDooks, Aug 10, 2017, 6 mins)
If you watched the above linked 60 Minutes Australia piece, "Why is China on the Move in the South Pacific?" then you know that China has been moving in on these precious little islands, in a multitude of ways. They bought one island for a million dollars. They purchased the rights, in perpetuity to another island's gold mines with all profits solely in the hands of China, forever, and on and on... The deals are underhanded, made by corrupt politicians, not in the best interest of the free world, the US or the islands themselves. The people of these little, vulnerable and democratic islands generally are not made aware that their lands were just hoodwinked into loosing their lush, beautiful and highly strategic islands. Often, if not always, the deals made between these corrupt politicians and China are not even legal.
A Solution:
The US can go in and make deals with these small, valuable and vulnerable countries that would be economically and politically viable and advantageous for both countries. We, as a nation (the US) and as a world have learned that bringing in large corporations such as Exxon, gutting countries and leaving them in the devastation of a big corporation's greed is not an acceptable solution and such a strategy can never be revisited. That is not my proposal. Instead, let's look at what our needs are, what the needs/desires of these precious little islands might be and how we can build a mutually, long-term beneficial relationship which allows everyone to gain and profit.
The US is currently changing it's strategy in how it deals in trade deals with China. In all honesty, the US has no right to deal with China at all due to it's extreme human rights violations. There should be an out and out embargo against all trade with China. I can hear the cries of 'we need China' and 'it'll devastate us', which is a bunch of malarkey.
These lovely little islands have an incredibly low cost of living which makes them a reasonable and realistic match for creating manufacturing businesses. This is not something they can do on their own. Remember when Trump wanted to buy Greenland? He's a land guy. He likes buying things. We could go in and make mutually beneficial deals with these small islands where we would co-own the land with them. Yes, we could buy the land outright, like China, perhaps every for a million dollars per island in some cases. But, the goal isn't a land grab. The goal is to protect the region for a hostile take over by China. Besides, if we're going to involve ourselves in the land, we want it to be profitable years from now, not just for a moment. So, think long-term.
Lovely islands deserve lovely strategies. When proper strategies are not employed bad things happen to potentially good places. Devastating Haiti v. beautiful Costa Rica (two bordering countries) illustrate the stark difference between approaches and how it benefits or destroys a piece of land and its value both in the short term and long term. So, let's approach this global fight for democracy with peace, love and prosperity. I'm serious.
1. Manufacturing plants do not have to be ugly.
2. They can be built well.
3. They do not have to be built as an eye sore.
4. They can be strategically placed, almost hidden, but still ideally located. You do not want to ruin the beauty of a country. You want to enhance it. How do you go about it?
5. If the US cuts the deal with an island, allow an open bid to build the manufacturing plant. The bid should go out to American architects and that of that particular island, only. Why?
6. Because we want to promote American businesses and also be able to involve them and hold them accountable.
7. Hire American and local workers to build the plant.
8. The US should state the amount of money it is willing to spend on building the plant. Then, it should take bids based on that price point. This approach has been used by IKEA for years. The owner would say, "I want a chair for $20. Design any chair you want but make sure it can be built and sold for $20." Then he would pick the designs that he liked best. The same approach can be applied to designing a manufacturing plant.
9. Allow independent architects to bid.
10. There should not be a stranglehold by a few large corporations or (tech start-ups) and it should not be a no-bid proposal. Remember that the US has an awful lot of fabulously trained architects who are being run out of business by these automation, tech junkies. This needs to favor American workers, not the 'run fast and break stuff' crowd. This is about employeeing and revitalizing American workers and innovation just as much as it is about helping protect national and international security.
11. There is nothing that says these gorgeous little islands can't be both industrial havens and tourist destinations. This can only happen if the strategy protect the beauty of the land. 12. Design is essential. Foresight and speed is mandatory.
13. Building the islands outright is probably less strategic then partnering with the islands.
14. Allow for profit sharing.
15. Have both American builders and locals build the structures.
16. Employ locally - both builders and plant workers.
17. Offer profit sharing both at a governmental level (US and island profitsharing) as well as allowing profit sharing by the architect and the workers. Why? Because you want them personally invested in the outcome for the long-term.
The above is a basic outline which could promote a strong bond of security and profit for both the vulnerable islands in the South Pacific and the United States to protect the beautiful islands and their ecosystems while creating the much needed manufacturing alternatives and creating an eco-friendly tourist revenue for the islands while respectfully bringing their peoples out of poverty and into prosperity. This approach essentially strengthens the US military's access in the region and our national security while making the populations of the regions our friends and allies. It's a win-win for all involved in protecting democracy.
Australia needs us to step in and ensure their waterways are secure for the long-term and that China does not win at a game of 'Go' by surrounding and inevitably taking over Australia.
Protecting our allies and making new friends protects ourselves.
As a Congress person in the US House of Representatives, I will work to build a safer South Pacific.
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