To counter China, US names Joseph Yun as envoy to lead Pacific Island talks
- Negotiations for US aid to the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau have languished, even as Beijing seeks a foothold in the region
- Yun previously served as US special envoy for North Korea under former US presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump
The United States on Tuesday named former senior diplomat Joseph Yun to lead languishing talks with three tiny but strategically important Pacific Island countries, a signal that countering China remains a US priority despite Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The State Department confirmed the appointment of Yun, who served as US special envoy for North Korea under former US presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump, in response to queries from Reuters.
“In light of the critical nature of these complex negotiations, President Biden is appointing Ambassador Joseph Yun as Special Presidential Envoy for Compact Negotiations,” a statement from the department said.
“We are currently engaged in negotiating amendments to certain provisions of the Compacts of Free Association with the FAS, and completing the negotiations is a priority for this Administration,” the statement said, referring to the islands collectively called the Freely Associated States.
The COFA negotiations govern US economic aid for the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), and Palau.