Podcast appearances and mentions of David W Panuelo

The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is a critical U.S. ally. It is one of three countries (along with Palau and Marshall Islands) that have signed Compacts of Free Association (COFAs) with the U.S. giving the U.S. extensive defense access, second only to what the U.S. has in the homeland. The COFAs forms the backbone of U.S. security architecture in the Central Pacific and facilitates U.S. freedom of deployment from Hawaii to the Philippines. FSM citizens can also live and work in the U.S. and serve in the U.S. military at high rates.Given its geographical location and its importance to the U.S., the FSM is the target of unrelenting People's Republic of China (PRC) political warfare and grey zone operations, with the goal of pulling the FSM away from the U.S. and into Beijing's orbit. For example, currently key components of the Compacts are awaiting renewal by Congress, giving an opening for PRC influence campaigns to foster uncertainty about U.S. commitment to the region.Between 2022 and early 2023, then president of FSM, David W. Panuelo, wrote three letters describing in unprecedented detail for a head of state Chinese activity in his country and in the Pacific Islands area. He warned that not only were PRC activities corrupting the FSM and undermining democracy, they were an intrinsic part of Beijing Taiwan contingency planning.To update on the situation in FSM since he left government, FDD's China Program is pleased to host former President of Micronesia David W. Panuelo for a discussion with FDD Non-Resident Senior Fellow Cleo Paskal. The conversation will be moderated by FDD Senior Fellow Craig Singleton with remarks by FDD Adjunct Fellow Richard Clark.

The United States is slated to get a new military base — this time in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Last month, during high-level talks in Honolulu, the US Indo-Pacific Command and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) agreed to build a new base in the island nation, an archipelago of more than 600 islands strewn across the Western Pacific, some 3,700 miles from Hawaii. The move is seen as another component of the Biden administration's continued effort to increase its footprint in Oceania. However, details about the base, so far, are scarce, causing anxiety for some FSM citizens who are worried about disruptions to their way of life, and wary about the idea of American military expansion in the region.Related: The pandemic wiped out tourism on Pacific island nationsSam Illesugam, 41, has lots of questions about the new military base: How big? What kind of base?“All of those questions are still very much up in the air for us,” Illesugam told The World. Illesugam, who now lives and works in the US territory of Guam, still has siblings and other family back in Yap, one of the Federated States of Micronesia's four states.“Any time there is a sudden change to the land, you affect our identity as Native islanders..."Sam Illesugam, from Yap, Micronesia, currently living in Guam“Any time there is a sudden change to the land, you affect our identity as Native islanders,” he said. “This will alter the social landscape of our islands. Our islands are very, very small. Any type of changes to our lifestyle will greatly affect us.”Illesugam is also uneasy with the idea of an increased US military presence in the Pacific. Ongoing land disputes on Guam and heightened tensions with locals over the heavy US military presence on Okinawa have put him and others “on alert.”‘Part of the homeland'The US military's record in the Pacific is as checkered as it is long.From colonization of the Philippines to nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands, Washington has given locals plenty of reasons for pause.Today, US Indo-Pacific Command already has some 375,000 military and civilian personnel working across the Asian Pacific.The Federated States of Micronesia did not respond to The World's questions about how, or if, they plan to incorporate the public. But President David W. Panuelo clearly stated that the agreement he made to build the new military base was in the interest of his people.In particular, their security interests, which are guaranteed by a very special relationship with Washington.“The Freely Associated States are squarely part of the homeland, and so, we're being protected by the United States,” Panuelo told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation after his meetings in Hawaii.The Compacts of Free Association are special, bi-lateral agreements FSM, Palau and The Marshall Islands have each struck with Washington.Established in the 1980s, these agreements are renegotiated every few years, and through them, the three nations have received hundreds of millions of dollars in aid.Related: Western nations bulk up their Pacific presence to counter ChinaSatu Limaye, vice president of the East-West Center, said there's also a crucial military component to the agreements, which allows citizens to join the US military.“The most recent version of the Compact of Free Association requires the United States to defend the FSM and gives it the right to use facilities, bases, sites."Satu Limaye, vice president, East-Wester Center“The most recent version of the Compact of Free Association requires the United States to defend the FSM and gives it the right to use facilities, bases, sites,” he said.Limaye said that being legally obligated to the US military as a sole defender puts these states in a very unique position.“FSM, like other countries in the region, is straddling or managing its relations both with China and the United States, as China is increasingly active there,” he said.Preparing for China's military capabilities Beijing has had diplomatic relations with the Federated States of Micronesia for more than 30 years. So far, there's been no real reaction about their forthcoming base. The two nations engage in millions of dollars in trade annually, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity.President Panuelo told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that in managing his relationships with the US and China, FSM interests come first. “And so, the posturing of the United States and our country is not looking for confrontation, but rather looking at deterrence and making sure peace exists in our vast Pacific Ocean,” he said. Related: Philippine president reverses threat to void defense deal with the USStill, Washington is increasingly concerned about armed conflict with China, according to Derek Grossman, a senior defense analyst with the RAND Corporation.“They [China] have a growing range to deploy these capabilities against US interests in the Pacific. ... That's ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, bombers, surface fleets, as well as submarine assets.”Derek Grossman, senior defense analyst, RAND Corporation“They have a growing range to deploy these capabilities against US interests in the Pacific,” Grossman said. “That's ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, bombers, surface fleets, as well as submarine assets.”Over the last decade or so, China has made significant inroads into the Pacific by scaling up, not just economic involvement, but also its aid, and diplomatic and commercial activity in the region.The Compact of Free Association States have not been immune to Beijing's growing influence, according to the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission.By establishing new military sites in the Pacific, the US gains access to new locations from which to potentially engage in future armed conflict with Beijing. But the downside is that these places are much further away from the US, Grossman said.The Federated States of Micronesia, for example, is nearly 3,700 miles from Hawaii. And this, Grossman said, will likely make it more difficult for the US to project its influence on the people in the region.Freelance writer Alex J. Rhowuniong is an FSM-born US military veteran living in Guam. The Chuuk State, Micronesia native says he would like to see a military base built in FSM.He can understand the hesitation, but for a military mind, “a no-active-military-presence zone is not a safe zone at all,” he wrote in an email to The World.Rhowuniong noted that a military base in FSM would be both good for the local economy, as well as for the thousands of veterans scattered throughout the nation.“If the US military does not establish a presence on FSM now, the enemy just might during military conflict,” he said.

The United Nations is calling on Samoa's leaders to come up with a solution in what has become a battle for leadership - as a new Prime Minister is sworn in, while another refuses to concede.In a statement released this morning, spokesman for the UN's Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric, said Secretary-General António Guterres has been following the development since the April 9 elections."He urges the leaders in Samoa to find solutions to the current political situation through dialogue in the best interest of the people and institutions of Samoa."The statement goes on to say that the UN "stands ready" to provide support for the island nation - but only if requested to by the two main political parties: Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) and the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP).The news comes as Samoa and Samoans around the world wait with bated breath to see what the next development will be in the ongoing general election saga.The country is waking up to a new day and indeed a new era after its first woman leader, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, was sworn in on Parliament grounds in Tiafau, Mulinu'u, Apia yesterday evening.The ceremony was carried out in a marquee tent just outside the Maota Fono (Parliament House), after Fiame and members of her party were locked out of the building.Fast members maintained that they had the right to be there, after Samoa's Supreme Court ordered Parliament to convene last week. However, the country's Head of State, le afioga Tuimaleali'ifano Va'aletoa Sualauvi II, issued a writ on Saturday night suspending that.However, the Supreme Court again overturned that announcement - ruling the Head of State's move unlawful.At Tiafau yesterday, a huge crowd of supporters and members of the public stood by to watch the ceremony - as many around the world were also able to watch via Facebook Live streams being recorded by local reporters and media outlets.After the ceremony, the man now being referred to as the incumbent leader laughed as he mocked what he described as the stupidity of the FAST party.'This is treason' - Tuilaepa Sailele MalielegaoiTuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said: "This is treason and the highest form of illegal conduct. None of what they did is legitimate. The devil has won and taken over them."Tuilaepa, who has been in the PM seat for almost 23 years, called the whole event a joke and one that the world would see as foolish."Oh my, where have we ever seen a Speaker sworn in - in a tent?"After the ceremony, Fiame told local media that the swearing in of a new Parliament was done so in response to the law and most importantly, what the people of Samoa had voted for.Translated, she said the convening of Parliament needed to happen."It's what has to happen - so we looked for a way to do so."She acknowledged the number of seats that belonged to Fast - 26, as opposed to HRPP's 25."That figure means a Government can be formed and established," Fiame said.The Attorney General's office also released a statement last night, saying the move was unconstitutional and that all persons involved were now subject to civil and criminal prosecution under the law.Asked if she would go to the Prime Minister's office tomorrow, Fiame laughed and said in Samoan: "We'll probably all go and look for our offices".Support from the PacificMeanwhile, the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia has come out in support of the new leadership; releasing a statement shortly after the swearing-in ceremony saying it recognises the legitimacy of Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa.President David W. Panuelo said: "As the Federated States of Micronesia that both upholds and promotes democratic values, it is imperative that we show our friends - especially during their darkest hours - that we stand with them."Samoa is a cherished friend and Pacific neighbour. Recent weeks have been very troubling for the Samoan people - who have been witnessing what is arguably a constitutional...

Hey podcast, here is the second part of our interview with our ninth FSM President, David W. Panuelo. Mr Eric Thomas leads off the interview with an excellent question on the importance of the government sharing information with the people. What follows are some precious gems of information from the President himself on information, social media, knowledge, accountability, power and clarifying that the government's business is the people's business. Catch the previous episode here: https://radiopublic.com/micronesian-podcast-with-patrick-G7pk4e/s1!43b32 And stay tuned for more from President Panuelo and his Public Information Officer, Richard Clark. 40% off any item in stock (excludes Clearance items), plus free ground ship. Unlimited items on order. Coupon Code: DELL40MLK4U. Valid 1/17/2020, 9:00 AM CST to 1/21/2020, 9:00 AM CST

Hey podcast, an absolute honor and privilege was granted to the Micronesian Podcast to interview the ninth President of the Federated States of Micronesia, David W. Panuelo. This is part one of a three part series. On this episode we talk about the Youth and our citizens abroad. He gives the youth some advice, like believe in yourself, don't compare yourself with others and tells us that the most important aspect of our economy is our human resources. Our future belongs to the youth and we hope that this message is passed onto all FSM citizens here and abroad to take part in the building of our nation, together. Till we have made these islands, another promised land..... Men Comfortable Anti Collision Toe Genuine Leather Sandals

Hey Podcast, the FSM President, David W. Panuelo has been leading our country for over 100 days now. How is he doing? From the perspective of information, I think he's doing great. Without timely and accurate information, we have no sense of what our President is doing. So far, so good. We hope to see more information and transparency from the Office of the President in the years to come. Also, if you like our podcast, please consider making a small donation to help us spread the word: https://www.gofundme.com/f/micronesians-and-friends-of-micronesia?utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer&utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet

https://gov.fm/index.php/component/content/article/35-pio-articles/news-and-updates/118-h-e-david-w-panuelo-inaugural-address?Itemid=177 Here is the video of the inauguration: https://youtu.be/Q_bWGcWns-U