The Chinese communist regime has been aggressively seeking to expand its control of the Pacific Islands through political warfare, bribery, and “gray-zone” activities, says David Panuelo, the former president of the Federated States of Micronesia.

During his tenure, which lasted from 2019 to 2023, he penned a number of letters to other leaders in the region to raise awareness about the Chinese regime’s belligerent tactics.

“I wasn't doing it because I wanted to be bold. I wanted to do it to protect our citizens and the sovereignty of our nation,” Mr. Panuelo says.

So why is this region so important? It’s part of the “Second Island Chain” of defense in America’s military strategy, and is critical to deterring a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

Views expressed in this video are opinions of the host and the guest, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.