Military build-up on Guam

The US military build-up on Guam has to do with buffering the conflict between China and Taiwan, according to a visiting admiral.

I wonder if the political and military saber rattling is the reason why China is so hesitant to allow their people direct access to the island as a tourist destination.

Many of Guam's problems are the result of local mismanagement and corruption. But a lot of what happens here is the result of forces beyond local control. Because of political tensions we don't get many tourists from the Chinese mainland.

We will, however, get 18,000 Marines and their dependents who are being moved to Guam from the southern Japanese island of Okinawa (easing political tension with Japan).

The US Air Force and Navy have been increasing their presence on Guam for several years -- moving in submarines, F-15 fighter jets, B-2 stealth bombers (in addition to the B-52 bombers already here). They're getting ready to break ground on a $52 million complex that will house unmanned Global Hawk spy planes. And this is just the activity that they're doing publicly.

There is a lot going on here that is beyond local control. If the locals are flexible enough and astute enough they can take advantage of the activity that is coming this way. There should be some trade-off for all they have to put up with.