The American Samoa government has begun discussions with the U.S. military to consider stationing troops in the territory amid the "rising power and influence of China" in the region.

The U.S. territory's Governor Lemanu P. S. Mauga met with the U.S. Army Pacific Commanding General Charles A. Flynn on Monday 8 May 2023 (Tuesday Samoa Time) to discuss "future plans on establishing itself as a hub for the U.S. in the Pacific region".

"The rising power and influence of China in the Pacific region prompted the Honorable Governor Lemanu to take preliminary steps to build up American Samoa’s defense economically and strategically," reads a press release issued by the American Samoa government.

"As the U.S. Territories are the doorstep in the United States it is only imperative that American Samoa initiate a strong partnership with key leaderships promoting regional security presence and deter potential adversaries.

"Additionally, the discussion overarches the opportunity to strengthen relationships between the United States and the Pacific Region through maximizing future opportunities."

The direct reference to China in the discussions between Governor Lemanu and the Honolulu-based U.S. Army Pacific Commanding General will worry regional groups such as the Pacific Elders’ Voice (PEV), an independent group of Pacific leaders, which has been vocal in recent months on the further militarisation of the Pacific Islands.

Besides Hawaii, which is the fiftieth state of America and has all branches of the U.S. armed forces, Guam in the North Pacific is the only other U.S. territory that is believed to be home to 10,000-plus American soldiers. In a report published in 2017 by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, it estimated that 16,400 military members and their dependents were stationed in Guam, most of whom working at the U.S. Naval Base Guam at Apra Harbor or at Andersen Air Force Base.

Last month the PEV expressed grave concerns about the AUKUS partnership – an agreement between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States for Australia to get nuclear-powered submarines – which it said was presented as a “deepening of long-standing diplomatic, security, and defense cooperation to meet the challenges of the future”.

"AUKUS signals greater militarisation by joining Australia to the networks of US military bases in the northern Pacific and is triggering an arms race, bringing war much closer to home," the PEV said in a statement.

"Not only does this go against the spirit of the Blue Pacific narrative, agreed to by all the Forum member countries last year, it also demonstrates a complete lack of recognition of the climate change security threat that has been embodied in the Boe and other declarations by Pacific Island leaders." 

Discussions between Governor Lemanu and the U.S. Army Pacific Commanding General focused on the General Commander’s decision to deploy a civil affairs team to conduct an assessment in American Samoa, with the aim of assisting in the development of better strategic planning capabilities; encompassed the issue of Space A military travel options that were suspended amidst the pandemic. Facilitating the commencement of Space A, specifically, the C17 and C130 flights which have the potential to provide travel options for both military personnel and veterans; and the potential presence of the National Guard to provide support as needed. An upcoming meeting among Commanders is scheduled this week wherein General Flynn will address the issue with National Guard leadership.

The PEV currently includes former Fijian Minister Kaliopate Tyvola, current Marshall Islands Senator and former president Dr. Hilda Heine, former Palau President Tommy E. Remengesau Jr, former Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Dame Meg Taylor, regional academic Professor Konai Helu Thaman, former Kiribati President Anote Tong and former prime minister of Tuvalu and current MP Enele Sopoaga.