Thank you for supporting the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. We appreciate your continued readership. Please enjoy this complimentary article.
In June, Hawaii’s first-term U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda embarked on a tour of Oahu, Guam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, and Okinawa alongside a group of lawmakers. The purpose of the visit was to establish Congress’s priorities in light of geopolitical tensions.
The delegation, led by House Armed Services Committee Chair Mike Rogers, consisted mostly of committee members, including Tokuda, as well as leaders from the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Energy and Commerce Committee.
Reflecting on the experience, Tokuda expressed the importance of recognizing the interconnectedness of the Indo-Pacific region. She emphasized the need to understand the strategic and geopolitical perspectives that shape the dynamics of this region.
During their time in Taiwan, the lawmakers met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and defense officials to discuss relations with China, security, and the upcoming elections in January. These elections have the potential to bring about significant changes in Taiwan’s foreign policy.
China strongly condemned a 2022 visit to Taiwan by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, leading to increased Chinese military activities near the island. Beijing views Taiwan as a renegade province and has pledged to regain control, even by military force if necessary. Reports suggest that Chinese forces may be capable of doing so by 2027.
The opposition Kuomintang party, originally formed by Chinese nationalists, portrays the upcoming presidential election as a choice between “peace and war.” Taiwanese Vice President Lai Ching-te, the Democratic Progressive Party’s candidate, presents the election as a choice between “democracy and autocracy” and vows to foster closer ties with democratic nations.
Tokuda highlighted the crucial transition that Taiwan will experience in its presidential election next year.
Given the rising tensions in the Pacific, especially at sea, countries like Japan and the Philippines, entangled in territorial disputes with China, have ramped up defense spending and sought closer ties with the United States.
While Tokuda acknowledges the importance of robust military alliances, she also emphasizes the necessity of adopting a comprehensive approach to American engagement in the region. This approach should extend beyond defense and take into account various government agencies and their roles.
Following their visit to Guam, where they assessed the aftermath of Typhoon Mawar and its impact on critical military installations, the lawmakers gained insight into the challenges that Pacific island communities may face in the coming years. Climate change has intensified storms, making them more powerful and frequent.
Tokuda expressed her concern for Hawaii by drawing parallels between Guam’s hurricane season and the approaching El Niño year. She emphasized the need for resilience in Hawaii’s infrastructure to tackle these challenges effectively.
During the tour of military bases in Hawaii, lawmakers witnessed the unique challenges of maintaining infrastructure in the islands. Constant exposure to salty sea air leads to corrosion, and importing supplies and equipment adds further complexities. Tokuda believes that firsthand experiences are crucial for senior lawmakers to understand and address these issues.
In terms of defense priorities, Tokuda has made infrastructure and maintenance key focal points. She stresses the importance of investing more in infrastructure rather than deferring maintenance, as neglecting repairs can lead to costly capital projects in the future.
Illustrating this point is the ongoing effort to decommission and shut down the Red Hill fuel facility, which dates back to World War II. The facility, situated just 100 feet above a critical aquifer relied upon by Honolulu for water, has fallen into disrepair over the years. Despite the Navy’s insistence on its safety and operational significance, fuel from the facility contaminated the Navy’s water system in November 2021, serving 93,000 people. This incident prompted a strong backlash and eventually led to the decision to close the facility.
Concerns have been raised by some mainland lawmakers that the closure of Red Hill could compromise military readiness. However, Pentagon officials now believe that adopting a “distributed” fuel storage policy, with reserves strategically located across the region, will enhance military capabilities.
As a delegation, Tokuda stresses the necessity of maintaining vigilance and reminding others about the Red Hill crisis.
The issues surrounding Red Hill have prompted residents to reevaluate their relationship with the military presence in Hawaii. Toxic spills involving the military have also garnered increased scrutiny as leases for state-owned lands used for training are set to expire in 2029, leading to renegotiations.
Tokuda has been pushing for provisions in Congress’s annual defense funding bill, calling for the appointment of an official to oversee land lease negotiations and potentially provide training for incoming military personnel on local culture and customs. She has also advocated for a Pentagon study on the military’s impact on Hawaii’s housing supply and private rental market.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.