The renewed Compacts of Free Association, which include U.S. military basing rights and aid to the Freely Associated States, are key to Pacific security in countering China. However, they have not yet been fully implemented—the topic of a House hearing. KHJ News Washington D.C., correspondent Matt Kaye reports…
Members of the House Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs stressed the importance of the Compacts, renewed in 2024, to countering malign Chinese influence in the Pacific.
Natural Resources Chair Bruce Westerman…
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[Transc.] Westerman: “As the Peoples Republic of China continues its campaign to undermine the United States’ global leadership, our firm commitment to the FAS must be demonstrated and strengthened daily through the full implementation of the COFA.”
And from Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata…
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[Transc.] Amata: “The implementation of COFA is important to ensure the U.S. remains a strong and stable partner in the Indo-Pacific. It’s a statutory requirement that an annual report describing the activities and recommendations of the Interagency Group is submitted to Congress.”
…a report that Amata pointed out was just delivered a night ago.
Nearly two years after being signed into law, the Compacts of Free Association still haven’t been fully implemented.
Congresswoman Amata says separate legislation’s been needed to aid veterans in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau.
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[Transc.] Amata: “I want to thank Rep. King-Hinds for introducing HR 5662, the U.S. Vets of the FAS Act, to explicitly provide certain VA services to our FAS allies, and I’m proud to be a cosponsor of the bill.”
Meanwhile, Tony Greubel of the State Department’s Office of Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific told Amata…
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[Transc.] Greubel: “The State Department does intend to establish a dedicated FAS unit according to the legislation’s mandate within that timeframe by 2029.”
Also testifying were Interior’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Insular Affairs Angel Demapan and, on a second panel, the three FAS ambassadors.
In a summary released ahead of the hearing, the committee warned that China continues trying to undermine democratic governance in the region through economic coercion, increased intelligence gathering, and shows of military power.
