Miscellaneous News

luminary said:

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The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) held talks with Taiwan in February about switching diplomatic ties for $50 million in assistance after frustrations with China, the outgoing president of the Pacific island nation has said in a letter.

Panuelo lost his seat in Tuesday's national poll, election officials confirmed.

He accused China of bribing officials and making “direct threats against my personal safety” as part of a bid to take over self-ruled Taiwan. Panuelo also accused Chinese officials of bribing local officials to be “complicit” and “silent”.

In February, he met with Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu and told him that Micronesia would need money for its trust fund if it was to switch diplomatic allegiance.

“I was transparent with Foreign Minister Wu; we project we need an injection of approximately $50 million to meet our future needs,” Panuelo wrote. “We can and will receive this, over a three-year period, if and when we establish diplomatic relations with Taiwan.”

He said Micronesia would also receive an annual $15 million assistance package and Taiwan would take over various projects that China had begun, including a national convention center, two state government complexes, and two gyms.

The FSM, which is home to fewer than 115,000 people and located about 2,900km (1,800 miles) northeast of Australia, is independent but receives financial assistance and defence guarantees from the United States under a so-called compact of free association.

‘Mutual respect’​

Beijing swiftly condemned the claims accusing Panuelo of “smears and accusations” that “do not accord with the facts”. “The Chinese side is always willing – on the basis of the One China Principle – to uphold the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, push forward friendly cooperation with Micronesia.”



Taiwanese lobby back at it. Hm, I'm sure this has nothing to do with it:

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If approved by Congress,

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would receive $3.3 billion, the Marshall Islands $2.3 billion, and Palau $890 million over between budget years 2024 and 2044. In addition, $634 million would be allocated to the U.S. Postal Service to continue to operate the three countries’ mail.

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baykalov said:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1635366704078520321

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Stierlitz said:

From his Wiki page : In March 2022 Panuelo characterized China, with its de facto one-party state status, "as paragon examples of peace, friendship, cooperation, and love in our common humanity." President Panuelo has characterized himself as "a sincere friend of China" and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as "our very dear Chinese friends."

Def a quite of turnaround ...

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luminary said:

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The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) held talks with Taiwan in February about switching diplomatic ties for $50 million in assistance after frustrations with China, the outgoing president of the Pacific island nation has said in a letter.

Panuelo lost his seat in Tuesday's national poll, election officials confirmed.

He accused China of bribing officials and making “direct threats against my personal safety” as part of a bid to take over self-ruled Taiwan. Panuelo also accused Chinese officials of bribing local officials to be “complicit” and “silent”.

In February, he met with Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu and told him that Micronesia would need money for its trust fund if it was to switch diplomatic allegiance.

“I was transparent with Foreign Minister Wu; we project we need an injection of approximately $50 million to meet our future needs,” Panuelo wrote. “We can and will receive this, over a three-year period, if and when we establish diplomatic relations with Taiwan.”

He said Micronesia would also receive an annual $15 million assistance package and Taiwan would take over various projects that China had begun, including a national convention center, two state government complexes, and two gyms.

The FSM, which is home to fewer than 115,000 people and located about 2,900km (1,800 miles) northeast of Australia, is independent but receives financial assistance and defence guarantees from the United States under a so-called compact of free association.

‘Mutual respect’​

Beijing swiftly condemned the claims accusing Panuelo of “smears and accusations” that “do not accord with the facts”. “The Chinese side is always willing – on the basis of the One China Principle – to uphold the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, push forward friendly cooperation with Micronesia.”



Taiwanese lobby back at it. Hm, I'm sure this has nothing to do with it:

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

If approved by Congress,

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

would receive $3.3 billion, the Marshall Islands $2.3 billion, and Palau $890 million over between budget years 2024 and 2044. In addition, $634 million would be allocated to the U.S. Postal Service to continue to operate the three countries’ mail.

Click to expand...

siegecrossbow said:

What it means is that instead of buying tea eggs for their people, the DPP spent it bribing the Micronesian President.

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baykalov said:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1635401517145681920

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1635355562962735105

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1635405589915521024

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REUTERS: Biden wants $886 billion defense budget with eyes on Ukraine and future wars

WASHINGTON, March 13 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden's biggest peacetime U.S. defense budget request of $886 billion includes a 5.2% pay raise for troops and the largest allocation on record for research and development, with Russia's war on Ukraine spurring demand for more spending on munitions.

Biden's request earmarks $842 billion for the Pentagon and $44 billion for defense-related programs at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Energy and other agencies. The total amount of the 2024 budget proposal is $28 billion more than last year's $858 billion.

Congress and the administration both have an eye on a possibly prolonged war in Ukraine and potential future conflicts with Russia and China.

"Our greatest measure of success, and the one we use around here most often, is to make sure the PRC (Peoples Republic of China) leadership wakes up every day, considers the risks of aggression, and concludes, 'today is not the day,'" Deputy U.S. Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks said on Monday.

Relations between the United States and China have become highly contentious over issues ranging from trade to espionage as increasingly the two powers compete for influence in parts of the world far from their own borders.

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Biden Expected to Have Call With China’s Xi Jinping But No Date Set​

Biden answered “yes” to a shouted question from a reporter Monday about whether he would speak with Xi soon.

Sullivan wouldn’t say whether the Chinese have agreed to hold a call on that timeline.

“I can’t put a date or time on it but in the period that follows the People’s Congress, a Biden-Xi telephone communication — we think there’s merit in seeing that happen,” Sullivan said last week.

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baykalov said:

Biden's request earmarks $842 billion for the Pentagon and $44 billion for defense-related programs at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Energy and other agencies. The total amount of the 2024 budget proposal is $28 billion more than last year's $858 billion.

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baykalov said:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1635435970786111488

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1635434371535769602

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