'The re-militarisation of Guam and by extension that area of the Northern Pacific will raise political and moral questions for South Pacific leaders'

Like it or not, the United States Marines are coming into the Pacific and they're bringing more than 10,000 dependents with them to stay.

For the most part, South Pacific business, including that of Australia and New Zealand, has missed the awesome significance of Washington's movement of its forces from the Japanese island of Okinawa to the United States territory of Guam.

For the most part, this move by the 8000 Marines, to be completed by 2014, has been overlooked because the South Pacific already thinks of Guam as a military base.

But this move is significant for a number of reasons. First up, is the major capital expenditure involved in the move: US$15 billion. The small Pacific construction and infrastructure services might be forgiven for thinking that they don't have a place in such a big operation.

But they would be wrong. Guam is in the Pacific, and Pacific businesses have the expertise. Most of the money is not being spent on military buildings anyway; big chunks are going to power, water and other utility plants.

As it is, Guam simply does not have the construction workforce for the new base, offering opportunities for Pacific nations to exploit the golden opportunity.

As the soldiers and their families move to the tiny island, the need for fresh food is obvious; anything from fish to bananas to chillies from Fiji. It is time South Pacific businesses thought seriously about the opportunities that lie ahead on Guam.

The third significant reason for taking notice is that all these highly paid Americans will not want to spend all their time on the claustrophobic atmosphere of Guam. They will be looking for holiday opportunities in the region.

At this stage, most of the airlinks through Guam as west-east, tend to limit opportunities for the South Pacific to cash in on Guam's dramatic increases.

Innovative airline operators though may have already seen the traffic generating possibilities of a once-a-week flight or more from Guam. Air Pacific, for example, already flies from Japan to Nadi; what say a stopover in Guam each way to pick up some cash rich Marine families for some R and R?

Marshall Islands foreign minister, Gerald Zackios, has already figured that one out and suggests they could see a sharp jump in tourist numbers from Guam, all heading to their Bikini Atoll diving attractions. They hope the dominant carrier, Continental, plays ball and provide more seats.

Neighbouring Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) has good cause for hoping the Guam deployment would mean new opportunities for the territory.

"We hope FSM will be looked at as a (rest-and-relaxation) destination," President Joseph J. Urusemal said.

"FSM needs to look at how it can prepare itself for more tourism."

Palau President Tommy Remengesau says his country must explore ways to further support tour operators, so Palau can prepare for more visitors who come to enjoy the Pacific nations' world-renowned dive sites.

"The movement of the Marines to Guam will have a major impact on the region," he said.

Interestingly, it may not just be the US Marines moving to Guam. There have been some serious discussions involving naval and air basing, not just on the island but on neighbouring Northern Marianas.

The re-militarisation of Guam and by extension that area of the Northern Pacific will raise political and moral questions for South Pacific leaders.

The force's build-up is precautionary on Washington's part. But in the longer term it can be seen as part of a growing military standoff between the United States and China.

Pacific leaders have already been showing a distressing willingness to join in the China-Taiwan struggle. As events are already showing, part of the region is already being fortified for possible future conflict. Guam has gone from being a Pacific non-entity to a military camp worth watching carefully!