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The United States struck security agreements this week with Pacific Island nations seen as a key part of U.S. plans to counter China’s territorial expansion. But after three years of negotiations, one of those Pacific nations - the Marshall Islands - still has not reached a deal with Washington. The reason? How the agreement describes money for compensation from U.S. nuclear testing some 60 years ago. VOA’s Jessica Stone reports
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/ScriptUS PACIFIC SECURITY DEAL
HEADLINE: US Pacific Security Deal with Marshall Islands at risk over Nuclear Payments Description
TEASER: Former U.S. negotiator says State Department legal team is holding up deal critical to countering China in the Pacific
PUBLISHED: 09/28/2023 at pm 6:30PM
BYLINE: Jessica Stone
WRITER: Jessica Stone
ASSIGNING EDITOR:
CONTRIBUTOR
VIDEO FROM: VOA original, AP, AFP, see courtesies
SCRIPT EDITORS: newhouse, ide, djones approved
TRT: 3:07
VIDEO APPROVED BY: MAS
PLATFORMS: WEB _ _ TV _x_ RADIO __
EDITOR NOTES: TV Eds: There is a rest opt section for the language services that want a version under 450 words))
((INTRO))
((The United States struck security agreements this week with Pacific Island nations seen as a key part of U.S. plans to counter China’s territorial expansion. But after three years of negotiations, one of those Pacific nations - the Marshall Islands - still has not reached a deal with Washington. The reason? How the agreement describes money for compensation from U.S. nuclear testing some 60 years ago. VOA’s Jessica Stone reports))
((NARRATOR))
Just days after providing diplomatic recognition to two additional Pacific Island nations, the U.S. has failed to extend economic assistance to three others.
That assistance is part of the Compacts of Free Association which give Washington exclusive access to large parts of the Pacific Ocean surrounding Micronesia, Palau and the Marshall Islands. Funding runs out on September 30th.
((Howard Hills, Former US Negotiator)) ((Mandatory Zoom))
“You would have to say that there was mission failure. “
((NARRATOR))
((Mandatory courtesy: Marshall Islands Journal))
Howard Hills negotiated those compacts alongside presidential envoy Ambassador Joseph Yun. He left his position September 7th.
((end courtesy))
Deals with Micronesia and Palau have been reached, while talks with the Marshall Islands have stalled.
((Mandatory: UNTV))
President David Kabua says the Republic still has one remaining demand.
((David Kabua, Marshall Islands President))
“What the United States must realize is that Marshallese people require that the nuclear issue be addressed.”
((NARRATOR))
In an interview with VOA, Hills says the State Department won’t let Yun officially designate the funds as compensation for the effects of American nuclear tests in the Marshalls 60 years ago.
((Howard Hills, Former US Negotiator)) ((Mandatory Zoom))
“If it were not for the State Department legal position, this could have been done in 2020. It could have been done in 2021. It could have been done in 2022.”
((NARRATOR))
The State department declined to comment on that assertion, but tells VOA that without new funding, Micronesia and the Marshall Islands “can use unspent funds” or their “Compact Trust Funds” to meet their budget needs. Palau still has another year of funding.
((Courtesy: Marshall Islands Journal))
((NARRATOR))
Congresswoman Aumua Amata Radewagen says she saw first-hand the devastating impact of the nuclear testing on the Marshallese people.
((Courtesy: Rep. Radewagen))
She spent part of her childhood in the Marshall Islands when her father was the head of government.
((Rep. Aumua Amata Radewagen, American Samoa))
“I can remember one time when he… (gets emotional) had to deliver a young boy…. carrying this boy. This boy had all kinds of cancer. He had to deliver this boy to his family. And things like that stick in my mind. I was a teenager then.
((NARRATOR))
Yun has said publicly that Washington bears a moral and political responsibility to address the impact of nuclear testing, and the MOU signed with the Marshall Islands this spring provides $700 million dollars for a trust fund that could be used for that purpose.
But Hills says, the State Department legal team has refused to officially designate any funds for nuclear compensation because of broader concerns over legal liability.
((REST OPT))
((Howard Hills; Former US Negotiator))
“Some of the players in this would rather preside over a failure that they control than over a success that they don't control. And success was in reach. And we didn't get there.”
((NARRATOR))
In a letter to lawmakers last week, Congresswoman Radewagen warned that China is waiting for an opening to grow its Pacific presence.
((Aumua Amata Radewagen, American Samoa Congresswoman))
“There's another large country just sitting there, keeping their fingers crossed, hoping that this deal fails so that they can step right in.”
((NARRATOR))
Radewagen says the lawmakers are ready to fund the agreement, as soon as one is finally reached.
Jessica Stone; VOA News.
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateSeptember 29, 2023 00:41 EDT
Byline
Jessica Stone; VOA News
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
