Watch

The United States is establishing and reinforcing its military positions across the Pacific, including on the tiny nation of Palau — a country with a population of just 18,000. It's a key part of what's known as the second island chain — located in a region US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has described as "the tip of America's spear" in the Pacific. The sovereign state has a compact which gives the US exclusive military access in return for security and economic support. But as tensions between Beijing and Washington continue to simmer in the region, some Palauans are increasingly uncomfortable with the growing military presence on their doorstep. SBS Reporter Tys Occhiuzzi travelled to Palau and filed this report.