World War II Pacific battlegrounds now site of US-China tug of war

MAJURO, MARSHALL ISLANDS - Pacific islands that were key World War II battlegrounds but largely neglected for the past 30 years are now back in the spotlight as China challenges traditional US supremacy in the region.

In recent years Washington's attention was focused elsewhere and US funding grants to the three nations were slated to end in 2023. Washington and its allies have only recently woken up to the challenge, with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Japan's Foreign Minister Taro Kono making unprecedented visits to the region, taking their cheque books with them.

LOOKING TO RE-ENGAGE In a sign that Washington is looking to re-engage with the region, Mr Pompeo announced the start of negotiations with the three island nations to extend the US funding grants due to end in 2023. Mr Pompeo's funding announcement came two weeks after China deposited US$2 million into Micronesia's trust fund - a fund the US had said only the previous week was unlikely to produce sufficient interest to maintain the Micronesian government's financial stability.

Mr Pompeo however confirmed the United States would not allow a financial opening for China in the US-affiliated islands.

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