The CNMI is pivoting away from the Chinese tourism market, which made up 50% of the islands' visitors pre-COVID, amid boiling U.S.-China tensions. Now, Governor Arnold Palacios is turning to the military for relief.

Governor Palacios says the Commonwealth is pivoting away from its reliance on the Chinese tourism market, which comprised half of the islands' visitors pre-COVID. In a letter to Admiral John Aquilino, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, the governor reiterated his testimony before the U.S Senate Committee last month about advancing America's interest in the region amid geopolitical pressure.

He says, "We are now working to strengthen and further develop the tourism pipeline from American allies including Japan and Korea, which of course will take time."

He adds, "The loss of the Chinese market, however, has had a considerably adverse economic and financial impact on the Commonwealth. This loss...contributes to vulnerable economic conditions that in the past have been exploited by the Chinese Communist Party to the detriments of the United States' interests in the region."

Palacios asked the admiral to advocate for more funding to stabilize the NMI's economy in the next DoD budget hearing in Congress. Palacios wrote, "We request for your support in seeking direct aid to replace the economic loss that we have experiences as a result of the CNMI's pivot away from China."

KUAM is reaching out to the Marianas Visitors Authority for comment.