Why is Julian Assange flying to the remote Pacific Island of Saipan?

Why is Julian Assange flying to the remote Pacific Island of Saipan?

SUB: IR

SEC: Places in news

Context:

• Julian Assange is expected to plead guilty to a single criminal charge in a plea deal, leading to his release and return to Australia.
• The plea deal involves a 62-month sentence, which he has already served.
• If the plea deal is approved, Assange will return to Australia after the court hearing.

Saipan island:

• Saipan is the capital of the Northern Mariana Islands (NMI), a US commonwealth in the western Pacific, located about 70 km north of Guam.
• Residents are US citizens but cannot vote in presidential elections. The NMI has a non-voting delegate in the US House of Representatives.
• US District Court: Saipan hosts a US district court, which will handle Assange’s case.

Reason for Choosing Saipan:

• Assange sought a court close to Australia but within US territory. Saipan is roughly 3,000 km south of Australia and closer than other US territories like Hawaii.

Historical Context:

• Colonial History: Saipan was controlled by Spain, Germany, and Japan before the US took control during World War II.
• US Commonwealth: In 1975, residents voted to join the US as a territory.

Tourism and Economy:

• Saipan is a popular tourist destination, known for its beaches, golf courses, and World War II memorials and wrecks.
• It is unique in allowing Chinese citizens to enter without a visa, a policy that has raised concerns about espionage risks in the US Congress.

Source: IE