Australia, Japan, U.S. to fund undersea cable for Pacific island of Palau

Where? And why is our tax money paying for that?

uktokeo, it’s called soft power, advancing Japan’s broader interests and security by helping others in the region so they don’t end up in a Chinese debt trap and subject to CCP extortion and control.

Where? And why is our tax money paying for that?

I think Japan can spare $10 Million to help out dirt poor islanders have decent communications. Its called being a good global citizen. Better than this poor nation taking a Chinese loan with huge interest, defaulting, and having the island repossessed in 5-10 years.

Where? And why is our tax money paying for that?

Palau, the scene of a fierce WWII battle, is friendly to the US, Japan and Australia. The US has a small military presence there but Palau is being courted by China, which has been throwing lots and lots of development money at all the small island nations in the Pacific. Palau is one of only 15 nations to have diplomatic relations with Taiwan and China would very much like to see this change. Throwing money at development programs is one of the ways they accomplish this. They recently flipped the Solomon Islands this way. The US and Australia are trying to promote diplomatic engagement with Taiwan and fend off Chinese attempts to buy friends in the Pacific.