Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Great Nuclear War)

Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands Timeline: Great Nuclear War OTL equivalent: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (1947-1994)
Flag since 1965 Coat of arms
Anthem:  Star Spangled Banner
Location of TTPI in broken lines (exclude American Samoa and Guam)
Capital		Saipan
Other cities		Palikir, Koror
Official languages		English
Regional languages		Micronesian languages, Marshallese, Chamorro, Palauan, Polynesian, Filipino, Japanese, Korean
Government		United Nations trust territory
-	Chief of State	John F. Kennedy (President of the USA/USP)
-	High Commissioner	Maurice W. Goding
Establishment
-	Trusteeship	July 18, 1947

The Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands is a United Nations trust territory formed after World War II. It is currently under the administration of the United States of the Pacific, the official successor of the Federal Government of the United States after the Great Nuclear War.

History

Pre-War History

The Spanish empire initially claimed the islands as part of their Spanish East Indies, comprising the islands of what is now the Philippines, Guam, the Marianas, Palau, and Micronesia. After the defeat of the Spanish during the Spanish-American War, Guam and the Philippines were ceded to the United States while the German Empire took a claim on the rest of the islands. In World War I, Japan invaded the Caroline islands and subsequently captured it from the Germans. The League of Nations placed the islands under the South Pacific Mandate, also commonly known as the Mandate of Nanyo. The Empire of Japan would continue to control the islands before being invaded by the United States during their island-hopping campaign in the Pacific War of World War II. The Marianas would be used as the launching site of B-29 Superfortress Bombers to Japan, eventually culminating in the Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

On July 18, 1947, administration of the islands were placed under the United States at the behest of the United Nations. The United States Navy exercised jurisdiction over the trust territory from Guam before being overtaken by the Interior Department in 1951.

The waters off the Marshall Islands would be the site of several U.S. nuclear tests during the late 40's and throughout the 1950's.

Great Nuclear War of 1962

Destruction of Kwajalein Atoll.

The Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands only suffered one strike from Soviet nuclear weapons: Kwajalein Atoll. The atoll was the site of a future U.S. anti-ballistic missile testing program and hence, it would be no doubt be targeted by the Soviet Union. The blast had nearly wiped out the atoll, killing countless Americans and Marshallese Islanders alike. Subsequently, the blast triggered tsunami waves that reached the nearby islands, causing minimal damages and casualties. As the weeks went by, the nuclear fall out killed many local islanders and made thousands more sick. The area near Kwajalein Atoll was immediately quarantined by the remnants of the United States Navy. It became an RZ or a restricted zone which would last for the years to come.

Post War

Immediate Aftermath

Islands near Kwajalein were evacuated as safety precaution from nuclear radiation.

What remained of the U.S. forces stationed in the nearby islands was deployed to maintain order, quell riots, and oversee the distribution of supplies. This operation took place in a matter of weeks. During this time, there were casualties that occurred when people tried to fight over rations. The trust territory also experienced a wave of suicides as local islanders took out their own lives for the fear of a nuclear strike. Despite the hardship faced by the U.S. soldiers, they got the situation under control. Stability was achieved by March 1963.

Contact with the USP

In late 1964, The Trust Territory would be under jurisdiction of the United States of the Pacific - the official successor of the United States of America. A carrier strike group stopped by at the Trust Territory and was able to confirm the status of its survival. The local islanders were overjoyed upon re-establishing contact with the United States government based in Honolulu, Hawaii. Upon re-establishment of contact, the islands followed its pre-war status as a trust territory under American administration.

Independence or Statehood?

The Trust Territory has yet to to have a referendum whether to break up into several independent nations or become a state of the USP.

Politics

Government

The Trust Territory's politics are mainly influenced by the American style. The Head of State of the islands is John F. Kennedy, the President of the United States of the Pacific. Appointed by President Kennedy is High Commissioner Maurice W. Goding, who serves as the administrator to the island.

Administrative Divisions

The Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands has six administrative divisions:

• Yap District
• Chuuk District
• Ponphei District (includes Kosrae District)
• Marianas District
• Palau District

Flag

Flag of the TTPI along with the US and UN Flag.

The flag of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI) (see above) consisted of a light blue field that contained six white stars centered in a circle pattern. The stars symbolized the six districts of the former trusteeship: the Marianas, the Marshall Islands, Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei (including Kosrae), and Palau. The blue field symbolized freedom and loyalty.

Each district possesses their own flag which flies alongside the flag of the TTPI, the flag of the USP, and the flag of the former United Nations. Despite the disbandment of the UN, the UN flag is flown for symbolic reasons. The territory formerly used the 48-star, 49-star, and the 50-star U.S. Flag up until the USP changed its Stars and Stripes to symbolize their current control of mainland United States (Alaska), the state of Hawaii, and other Pacific territories.

Economy

Prior to World War III, the Trust Territory was heavily dependent on American funds. The destruction of the U.S. mainland caused the islands to go on their own for their economy. Local islanders resorted to traditional Micronesian and Pacific Islander livelihoods, such as fishing, farming, collecting of fruits, woodworks, and as the U.S. Dollar lost it's value, barter. The Trust Territory's biggest trading partners were the U.S. territory of Guam, Nauru, Australia, New Zealand, and several other Pacific Islands that escaped unscathed during the war. The United States of the Pacific continues to provide aid to the Trust Territory despite the islands having gone sufficient since 1962.

In recent times, tourism from the Philippines and Australia-New Zealand has improve the economy to a small extent.

Transportation

Transportation in the Trust Territory is mainly done by boats and planes. Major seaports are located in Enitwetak Island, Kwajalein, Majuro, Saipan, Tinian, Rota, Koror, Colonia (Tamil Harbor), Molsron Lele Harbor, and Pohnepi Harbor. The islands have airfields that were constructed during World War II which have found its purpose of transporting goods and travelers via transport planes. The islands themselves only have a few roads, often unpaved. Land vehicles are usually vintage WWII-era Willy's MB jeeps and trucks, along with others 1940s-1950s civilian cars.

Military

The islands do not have a permanent standing army. Only local police forces stationed in the island districts perform law enforcement duty and defense. These police forces are lightly armed, consisting of American and Japanese small arms leftover from World War II and some recent American-made firearms. Vehicles include Willy's Jeep, heavy trucks, landing crafts, landing ships, armored personnel carriers, WWII-era tanks and small variety of aircraft. Military defense is provided by the United States of the Pacific, which has since stationed troops in the island districts.

In rare instances, explorers on the island may stumble from left-over Japanese armories scattered throughout the territory. The discovery of intact, yet-functional weapons, anti-aircraft guns, and howitzers have added to the arsenal of the police in the TTPI. While explorers and authorities were able to Japanese tanks and fighter aircraft, these were deemed already obsolete as it was either buried in the mud, neglected by nature, or to damaged beyond any repair.