Palauans Concerned Over Safety, Environment as US Military Development Continues

Aquamarine waters and coral reefs alive with colorful fish, the small Pacific country of Palau is famous for its natural beauty. Tourists flock to the archipelago for diving and locals call it the pristine paradise. But that paradise could soon be lost as the U.S. ramps up its military presence in the region as it competes with China. Several projects, including a 500 million U.S. dollar rebuild of its main port in Palau's commercial center, Karar, are in the works and residents are worried about what that could mean for their home. If war broke out here or if something were to happen in Palau, where would Palauans go? Who would be in charge or responsible for taking care of them? The U.S. and Japan fought a fierce battle on Palau's southern island of during World War II and locals worry an increase in U.S. military presence could draw them into a future conflict. Palau gives military access to the U.S. as part of a compact of free association but a tenth of the population recently signed a petition asking lawmakers to call for a better deal with protection assurances. And it's not just their homes at stake. Some worry that these projects, which could take years to complete, could also disrupt the local ecosystem as well, including the critically endangered dugongs who live in the UNESCO World Heritage Site nearby. So if we can stay to that timeline and that's the only disturbance, what I would expect potentially is that we might lose the concentration of dugongs for that two-year period. Other U.S. projects in the country, including a radar tower system and an expanded airstrip for military use, have also raised environmental concerns. As military activity in Palau increases, residents hope that their safety and their environment are taken into consideration. Alex Chen and Tiffany Wong for Taiwan Plus.