By Matsuki Hirayama

Copyright kuam

The Guam Defense Forum kicked-off today in Tumon with critical discussions on military readiness and posture, with military and island leadership answering questions from the community. Over 300 participants including local leaders, senior military officials and community members gathering for critical discussions.

In the keynote address, US Indo-Pacom Commander Admiral Samuel Paparo discussed Guam’s role in the Indo-Pacific strategy amid growing threats from China and North Korea. “The threats are not just missiles and ships,” he stated. “Cyberattackers strike Guam’s lifelines– power grids, water systems, ports, hospitals [and] schools. In May 2023, Chinese hackers known as Volt Typhoon penetrated US critical infrastructure, including here on Guam.”

He says “Guam never stands alone and must never stand alone.” He adds the territory anchors America’s capability to defend, project power, sustain alliances and to deter aggression.

Governor Lou Leon Guerrero spoke on that partnership, as she and the admiral answers questions from participants, saying, “Believe me, I have said to the military ‘We welcome you and we want to partner with you, but you have to respect our culture, our environment and our people. And you have to work with us within our own protocols to do that.’ I have to say, since my administration, I have not seen anything that they do to go against that request.”

Among those in attendance, Senator Sabina Perez sharing several concerns– from environmental degradation, affordable housing shortage, to the future plans for nuclear energy. “We ask that you do not diminish our voices. Every time I’ve seen an environmental impact statement, it talks about the harms and then it goes on to minimize the impacts. How is that genuine? How is that being a true partner? We ask that you listen to our voices, seriously,” she stated.

“Senator, we pledge to be sources for transparency, for teamwork, for dialogue, and for respect. And when we’re not doing that, we’re human. We expect and we ask for our partners in Guam government to hold us to account.”

Pacific Center for Island Security chairman and former congressman Dr. Robert Underwood also underscores that Guam is a “non-participant” in these conversations, especially with a non-voting delegate. “The people of Guam are being asked to share a disproportionate burden of this response to the China-US competition on this side of the world. They’re being asked to share a burden that no other US community is being asked to shoulder,” he said.

“So the question then becomes, for our political leadership and community, is there a disproportionate gain from all this? What will the people of Guam gain out of this if they’re being asked to shoulder a disproportionate burden?”

Retired colonel Tim Puzan with the Guam National Guard says no shield is a hundred percent and asks the admiral how he’s planning for the first 30 days should a strike from China hit Guam. “My concern is what happens if after that initial strike does occur, maybe the port is taken out and the airport is taken out. We have sustainability issues when it comes to our population. I would hate to see a delineation between the military population being taken care of and the civilian population being taken care of,” he said.

In response, the admiral reaffirms his commitment to all Americans, saying, “We don’t cultivate any sense of otherness between the military and the people of Guam. and we ask and pray that Guam does not create a sense of otherness against soldiers, sailors, Marines, guardians and civilians who live, work and make their home here.”