About 1/3 of the way
from Japan to Australia lies the island of Guam,
a US territory. The island is located 1,500 south of Tokyo; 3,300 miles from
Sidney; 2,000 east and south of Hong Kong; 3,000 east of Singapore;
4,000 mile east of Hawaii. Most American don't even know it
exists. However, the island - along with Japan and the Philippines
- plays a important role in maintaining the US military interests in the
Asia Pacific region.
Guam was acquired along with
the Philippines when the USA went to war with and defeated Spain in 1898. The Philippines
(which now has 94 million people) gained their independence for the USA
after WWII, but Guam is still a US territory, with US citizens.
Guam is home to 170,000 people, a sizable Air force base, Navy base
and, in 2012, Marine base. The map to the left highlights Guam strategic
position in the region.The Guam Organic Act of 1950
granted the people of Guam US citizenship and provided for the
structure of Guam's civilian government.
209 sq mi of land, 173k people (2007)
Guam is one of 6 inhabited
"US Area" in the Pacific other the Hawaii. It is
important to note
that in the aftermath of WWII, the entire area pacific came
under allied military control. The
Americans, the British, the Australians, and the New Zealanders
"administer" law in most of these pacific island as trustees for a then
"League of Nations". The geographic area of the US
controlled "Mandates" was roughly the size of the USA. Much
has changed in 60 years in the US controlled Mandates, and it is a
little confusion to keep track of.
Area #2: More USA in the Asia Pacific
Region - Saipan
Saipan is a island north of Guam and the main island of the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands. This "country" has the
exact same
status as Puerto Rico in that Saipan is a "commonwealth in political union with
the United States" A commonwealth is a type of
US Territory - is an "organized but unincorporated dependent
territory." There are only two such territories -
Puerto Rico and Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands. Capital is Saipan.179 sq mi of land;
85k people (2007). The commonwealth is about the same size as
Guam but half the people. The US took control of the area after
WWII. .
Area #3: More USA in the Asia Pacific
Region - Micronesia
Federated States of
Micronesia is a 4 states federation with a Compact of Free
Association with the USA. 271 sq mi of land, 108k people
(2007) Formerly part of the
Trust Territory of the Pacific Island, a U.N. Trusteeship
administered by the US Navy from 1947 to 1951 and the
Department of Interior from 1951 to 1986 (to 1994 for
Palau). Under the COFA relationship, the United States
provides guaranteed financial assistance over a 15-year
period administered through the Office of Insular Affairs in
exchange for full international defense authority and
responsibilities
Areas #4 &
#5: Former USA in the Asia Pacific
Region
Republic of the
Marshall Islands is a former COFA but is now an independent
county. 70 square miles, 62k people (2005)
Republic of Palauis a former COFA
but is
an independent county since 1994 after concluded a Compact of Free
Association with the US. 177 sq mi of land.
21k people (2007)
Areas #6: USA in the Asia Pacific
Region
American Samoa has a total population of 57 k people and
76.1 square million. An
unincorporated unorganized territories since 1898)
but locally
self-governing under a constitution last revised in
1967.
While Guam is
definitely strategic. I like it because it is America and only a
three hour flight from here! People are also nice and the scuba
diving is great. Great place to base other adventures
from!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Guam (since 1898): also the home of a U.S. Naval and Air
Force base.
United States Virgin Islands (since 1927): these were
purchased by the U.S. from Denmark, initially in order to
add to the defenses of the Panama Canal.
Northern Mariana Islands: formerly a UN Trust Territory
under the administration of the United States, it
established itself as a U.S. Commonwealth in 1978.
Puerto Rico (since 1898): established as a U.S.
Commonwealth in 1952.
Unincorporated unorganized territories
Islands in the Pacific Ocean
American Samoa (since 1898): locally
self-governing under a constitution last revised in
1967.
Wake Island: no longer under the jurisdiction of
the Department of the Navy, inhabited by civilian
contractors, only. It is now primarily a wildlife
refuge.
Midway Islands: no longer under the jurisdiction
of the Department of the Navy, inhabited by
caretakers, only. It is now primarily a wildlife
refuge.
Johnston Atoll: now uninhabited. Was last used
by the Department of Defense in about 2005.
Palmyra Atoll is privately owned by the
Nature Conservancy and administered by the
U.S. Department of the Interior. It is an
archipelago of about 50 small islands with about
1.56 sq mi (4 km2) of land area, lying
about 1,000 miles (1,609 km) south of
Oahu, Hawaii. The atoll was acquired by the
United States through the annexation of the
Republic of Hawaii in 1898. When the
Territory of Hawaii was incorporated on April
30, 1900, Palmyra Atoll was incorporated as part of
that territory. However, when
State of Hawaii was admitted to the Union in
1959, the
Act of Congress explicitly separated Palmyra
Atoll from the newly federated state. Palmyra
remained an incorporated territory, but received no
new organized government. Palmyra was formerly
(before 1950) a
seaplane base used by
Pan American Airlines and the
U.S. Navy. It had a Pan American hotel that was
used for overnight stops by travelers. It was along
an air travel route that linked Hawaii with
American Samoa,
Australia, and other destinations in the south
Pacific as non-stop flights were not possible.
There are in addition also "territories" that have
the status of being incorporated but that are not
organized:
U.S.
flagged vessels at sea, naval, coast guard, or
civilian.
About the Author:
Consulting CFO & Advisory Services.
Mr. Barker is an experienced executive and consultant available to
work on a contract basis. US
Citizenship; Japan Resident. Experienced as transitional senior
management or advisor in the M&A setting or troubled company
restructuring project.
Capable of taking control of company
until a more long term management solution is available.
Also available to do contract research or due diligence used for supporting acquisition or investment
decisions or for developing specific corporate strategy.
Background.
Mr. Barker's background includes CFO and acting
president of a Japanese subsidiary of US Fortune 1000 Company; acquisition
integration consulting on international transactions; the CFO and acting
president of a small San Diego based gaming and US military
contractor; Manager of Mergers and Acquisitions for Ernst and Young;
Audit Manager with Deloitte and Touche; as well as employment with
investment banks Merrill Lynch and Shearson, Lehman, Hutton.
Formal education includes MBA from University of California, an MS
in Engineering from the University of Alaska, and a BS in Mechanical
Engineering from University of Washington. Mr. Barker is a
Certified Public Accountant (and Auditor)
licensed in the the State of California
(USA) and competent in US GAAP, SEC compliance,
IFRS and Japanese GAAP. Industry
experience is diverse.
Contact: All inquiries keep
strictly confidential. Please
e-mail for phone contact info. WallyBarker@Gmail.Com or
write 6-5-14 Mikagenakamachi, Kobe-shi Hyogo-ken 658-0054 JAPAN
APPENDIX -
Historical Maps - Trust Territories
of the Pacific
