Argentina 'plotting Falklands economic blockade'

[happyslug]

31. Guam's # 1 source of tourists is Japan, 75% of all tourist are Japanese.

And no one is trying to develop the waters around Guam, thus no need for any nearby large industrial base to reach out to, but if there was a need, Japan would be the second nearest base. No problem for Japan has no claim on Guam but if Japan did and they were oil around Guam, I can see the US giving Guam to Japan (Through giving it to Northern Mariana Islands, which it is geographically part of, but Japan held those islands prior to WWII, even while Guam was US territory. Prior to WWI those islands were German, Japan took them in WWI).

Furthermore, the Philippines is closer, again not problem, if we need an industrial base to develop. Guam and the Philippines were Spanish prior to 1898. But the distance is huge as to Guam to the Philippines or Japan as compare the Falkland islands and Argentina.

Another factor is the population of Guam is 178,000 While Falkland is only 3140. Through the Falklands is substantially larger, 4700 square miles for the Falklands, while only 209 square miles for Guam. That provides a decent population base for oil exploitation, through it is still quite small.

More on Guam:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guam

For more on the Falklands:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falkland_Islands

Just a comment the situation is different between Guam and the Falklands, a better comparison would be with Cuba, near the US coast and we have long been concerned on who controls that island. Through the population of Cuba exceeds even Guam AND you have other nearby islands (Haiti for example) and Countries (Mexico). Thus Cuba is a bad comparison, but a better one then Guam.