I Overheard a Secret Chinese Meeting in Micronesia on Vacation

We had covid the entire last month and a half, that's why we've been away. It sucked. Sorry for that. Hope we can make up for it with this small island gossip.
I am just now noticing there's an extra p in the end credits. Like in the word swimming pool. Also I say that Palau was part of the FSM but the group they declared independence from was then called the Trust Territories of the Pacific. Apologies.
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Thanks for watching! You're clearly one of the good ones.

[@RareEarthSeries]

Our entire series thanks to you. www.patreon.com/rareearth ko-fi.com/rareearth

[@GuntherRommel]

Loved the post card, Evan and Kata! And my kids still love the t-shirt from oh so many years ago. My oldest's favourite, they say.

[@Didacmmv]

Thank you for doing what you did, not for me but for Asia.

[@antonioarroyas7662]

What's your take on Vanuatu in all of this?

[@ponyote]

Watching on Nebula, commenting here.

[@whiteknightcat]

Kata is lovely. Thou art fortunate!

[@vezokpiraka]

Are we in the age of KZbin journalism? This video has been an absolutely incredible dive into Pacific island geopolitics that even someone like me who follows a lot of geopolitics had no idea was happening as well as on the ground information related to the event. Just a week ago Bald and Bankrupt posted a video about crossing the Darien Gap, an insane feat mind you, just to show us what those people who cross it for a better life have to endure. I did not even imagine such a video could be made, let alone just for kicks on a youtube video. These things are important for the world. This is how we see what the rest of the world is up to and what is actually happening in places no news crews go. I commend you for this video and applaud you for the bravery of actually entering the geopolitics game even as a small time information gatherer.

[@bennycarter5249]

KZbin journalists are the best! Reckless Ben and Tyler Oliveira are some other really good ones.

[@maxvanleeuwen9104]

GDF has been doing some good work about israel hamas war. Along with how the US messed up a lot of places in the not so "cold" war.

[@beskamir5977]

tbh, youtubers are the only journalists I'd trust at this point in time. They're usually working alone or in very small teams so it's a lot easier to spot their biases. And since most youtubers understand they owe their success to their audience, they aren't as detached as mainstream journalists can become and still value their individual credibility rather than the credibility of a network brand that will get watched even when it's constantly wrong. Of course there are plenty of horrible youtube journalists but I think there are way more great ones on youtube than there are in mainstream news outlets. Covering virtually any topic from investigating criminals and scammers to geopolitical issues and conflicts.

[@VoIcanoman]

That Bald and Bankrupt video was one of the best things I've ever seen on KZbin. We need people like him, and like Evan here, keeping on sharing the stories of people and places that are utterly alien to the average American consumer of media. Because those people matter, and those places could be absolutely critical to everyone's life and liberty. We just don't usually figure it out until the history books are being written. But now, in this global village we call Earth, it is possible to learn things that we couldn't know in less-connected times, change our beliefs as a result of what we learn, and force our leaders to care about these things. And the KZbin journalists are often the ones making it all happen, though none of them ever really thought they'd be in that position. This video was excellent...but it was also important. Who knows what the knock-on effects will be from Evan and Kata deciding to eat pizza, and then later choosing to share what they learnt? The responsibility that he must have felt in weighing the options, to speak out or keep silent, must have been immense. Certainly, this information may have been known already by the Taiwanese or Americans (who knows how far their eyes can see, or ears can hear), but now WE know it, and something that was meant to be secretive, confined to back rooms and back channels, is out in the open where the major power players in global geopolitics don't want it. But I think raising awareness of this meeting, and its ultimate purpose, was the obviously right call. Diplomacy is all well and good, but when a country is preparing the ground for a war that they absolutely intend to fight, with the goal of conquering a people who would really rather remain as citizens of an independent, democratic nation, rather than as vassals of a massive, authoritarian state...there really should be no hesitation in taking action that alerts average people to the reality of the situation in the western Pacific ocean. Doing so could literally help save hundreds of thousands of lives. So Evan should be commended for taking on this responsibility. Making this video almost certainly means that he could never do a Rare Earth series in the PRC, but given the harassment vloggers and citizen journalists have faced trying to show what life is really like for the Chinese people, I think that was already a pipe dream!

[@killercaos123]

What B&B did was extraordinary in scope, (this can’t be emphasized enough), I dont exactly trust his takes on the geopolitical struggle of Ukraine against Russia. Especially with his kind of background

[@adlockhungry304]

“Frankly, these days it seems most people’s politics are just utopianisms they’ve sharpened into knives so they can feel self righteous stabbing you.” One of the best quotes I’ve ever heard.

[@getahanddown]

That just primed me for 'when there's a vaccum, things tend to suck' lololol

[@thesuccessfulone]

Yeah, he is definitely a metal lyricist. A rare earth metal lyricist

[@nycrsny3406]

100%

[@ComanderSazabi2000]

For years, I felt like the crazy one for seemingly being the only person on the internet who seems to hold this sentiment. I feel validated to have my concerns be acknowledged. Rare Earth never disappoints to be nuanced and I love it

[@B4DDHero]

Yeah, wtf, he just drops a bar like that out of nowhere. Glorious.

[@Zelmel]

This is a bonkers story and also it definitely shows you are your father's son (in a good way). Also, RIP any plans you had to ever visit China ever again.

[@blindmown]

Yup, Winnie the Pooh and his goons will have him disappeared. I can't go to China either due to comments like this.

[@PlayMates_]

was in hongkong and was scared to death never going back again.

[@LimitedWard]

​@@blindmownno not a chance. Sooner China would just not let him into the country. You really think they'd create a diplomatic crisis over a man hearing a conversation while eating pizza? The US and it's allies likely knew about this backdoor meeting before governor woke up that morning.

[@angsern8455]

​@@PlayMates_what happened in Hong Kong?

[@kriscubero6778]

@@angsern8455 Uh...a lot of f-up stuff happened there? You know the protests that happened in the past there, like it's non-existent anymore? And like some of the protesters ending up disappearing and appearing again having no breaths? (Just note it's the PG version of what happened to them)

[@danmur15]

I always appreciate when a creator takes the time to deliberate on their own position in a situation in front of the camera like you did, I think it shows a higher level of awareness of the situation than most other people will have. Great video, and a great showcase on opportunity.

[@StuffandThings_]

Of all the things I expected out of this series over the years, this was *not* one of them. What an experience.

[@GuntherRommel]

Right?

[@SUPERBUZZED]

That's our false system for ya; Best believe there are MANY amongst us playing/staging/doing their part for yet ANOTHER staged world war 🤫🤫🤫and some. - Just saying 🤔🤔

[@MonkeyJedi99]

Every time he says "FSM" my mind yanks me to a halt, wondering why he's bringing the Flying Spaghetti Monster into this topic. Much like current political articles using the abbreviation MTG make me wonder what Magic The Gathering has to do with forest fires or politicians from the state of Georgia.

[@travisjohnson6703]

History is written by people, not ideals or nations. One of my favorite lessons from an old history teacher, and it perfectly applies to your situation. You just wrote a small part of history, while those 4 at the restaurant were writing their own small part.

[@tp6335]

False history is written by nations and ideals

[@yerri5567]

@travisjohnson6703 Ever heard of book burning and the rewriting of history? Thats how history is written by a nation.

[@stinkypinky6969]

History is written by the victors & not the losers!

[@SimonNZ6969]

I do like to think they thought you were ACTUALLY a spy and started getting nervous. Great video and I respect what you did.

[@Samuel88853]

He is a spy.

[@robertoaguiar6230]

I mean... if they did, they were right. The guy spied the whole thing and put it on yt

[@aiocafea]

i mean or a reporter, and him putting this out to millions of people is pretty much equivalent to publishing it in whatever journal

[@Psycho-Complex]

He did spy tho. 007 Hadfield

[@ArawnOfAnnwn]

@@robertoaguiar6230 He did, but ultimately it amounted to nothing important. Cool story for his audience, but as far as the real spies are concerned they can probably just shrug and move on if this is all he heard.

[@uncannyvalleywoods7248]

I've been screaming this into the void for the last 13 years. After living on Kosrae, watching China swap buildings for fishing out the entirety of the Tuna stock in the region...watching Chinese spies (watchers) live in the jungles of Kosrae, just waiting...I knew that this was the most important front on the cold war with China. No one takes this region seriously and I'm unbelievably satisfied that you made this video to highlight this. Thank you!

[@simonschneider5913]

oh the bad chinese...EU/US/UK only have the best of the people in mind, while china is horribly greedy and robs poor people in poor countries, right? this is truly impressive in its ignorance...

[@tfalani3861]

you bot. worse still, youre a propagandist

[@uncannyvalleywoods7248]

@@tfalani3861 Wut wo, sounds like someone is engaging in subversive thoughts! LOL The irony of some pro-CCP lackey calling someone else a "propagandist" LOLOLOLOLOLOL

[@ronagoodwell2709]

Repeat of WW2 in the Pacific. Islands and mapped-out choke-points. Watchers with binoculars and radios and mosquito repellent. Some things never change.

[@SerenaHe-z3k]

@@redhammer9910It requires 2 to 3 days for Chinese aircraft carriers to start. They use heavy oil and coal as fuel. lol. It's the country that dreams to dominate the world. Chinese immigrant here.

[@LexYeen]

Corruption is corruption. Good job helping the local government.

[@JL-yt5hy]

All of the people on these islands are poor so they are easy prey to the CCP and that is why Australia needs to step up and take control. If the CCP takes control of these islands, Australia will be next. China is desperately seeking resources and Australia has everything they want.

[@simonschneider5913]

in europe, we call it lobbyism. we are so superior in our ways...thats why we need to tell people around the world what they should do...

[@koltoncrane3099]

Simon Europe is amazing with lobbyism and so is Israel. They’re so great the American tax payer keeps funding nato and giving out money to fund the military industrial complex so Europe and Israel doesn’t have to pay cost. And then dumb democrats actually want free college in the U.S. It’s like I tell them. Democrats tell the rich to pay their fair share but when Biden prints money for nato abs Ukraine Europe isn’t paying their 2% fair share. Cost would be great. It’s like America could have free college if we cut back on the military as we spend more on the military than the next ten countries combined. It’s nuts how politics sells out to lobbyists which is basically bribery. We’ve now got politicians that buy their votes and those politicians are also paid for by lobbyists. We really need to ban lobbyists and set a limit on how much a politician can spend on a campaign and have term limits. Banning centralbacksthat are privatelyowned would be amazing too. Why do we have banking cartel monopolies? Makes no sense. Did you know the federalreserve pays a 6%dividend to wallstreet. Read the federal reserve act.

[@hentype]

@@simonschneider5913 truly, unlike China who is so inferior the only thing they have going is population and India just overtook them.

[@yoohoo5590]

Local petty corruption, if you can call it that, seems to pale in comparison to the national level corruption that America's empire fosters. Do you really think "the letter" didn't have anything to do with corruption?🙄

[@cuteincolour4289]

As an Australian, there's another side to this. Australia has traditionally played a role in soft diplomacy by providing millions in foreign aid. Our right wing party (ironically known as the Liberals) pulled the funding for the region after thier base riled up by Trumpian style politics, adopted an 'Australia first' type policy. The head of the Marshall Islands begged us not to, and even warned the Chinese had made an offer. He asked the AU delegation to match the funding offer. We refused. Then there was a slight whimper of complaint when they took the Chinese offer. Its absolutely crazy.

[@octavianova1300]

Ain't nothing ironic about the Liberal Democrat Party being right-wing, people just tend to think liberal = left because of the influence of American ideas on how those terms are understood, and the US is such a thoroughly right-wing country that center-right ideologies like liberalism are as far left as the mainstream of politics will ever go, so everyone ends up conflating the two. Same reason even most Americans who self-identify as "democratic socialist" are hardly even left of center at all, barely qualifying as social democrats let alone democratic socialists, and the same reason why the mainstream right in the US thinks everyone who falls more than two inches to the right of Mussolini is a fucking radical communist lmfao

[@joncarolyn]

We shouldn’t have to pay them to be our friends

[@adrianseanheidmann4559]

I mean "economically liberal" can very much be right-wing. Left just means against the current hierarchicla order.

[@TeamCGS2005]

Thankfully that has changed recently with the U.S promising US$2.3 billion over 20 years in economic aid to the Marshall Islands. The idea is that the islands in the Pacific including Papua New Guinea have been promised massive investment from the likes of China's AIIB so as to have these developing nations join their debt trap. The reality is that they will then be burdened with loans for infrastructure that they cannot afford to pay, and no employment opportunities for locals because the Chinese will have brought in their own cheap labor force.

[@mesteme]

No irony in liberal name, it was used fiscally before any of the modern connotations that came from the US.

[@johnswanson2600]

By this time tomorrow, someone at the CIA is going to be watching this video and making notes for when they call a contact of their's in Micronesia. There is no way United States, or Canadian, or Australian government officials don't know what's going on. And at some point an American diplomat (or spy) had a conversation over dinner with the Micronesian President. Hopefully he or she promised Micronesia positive things, help with education and infrastructure, help in protecting Micronesian sovereignty in exchange for that letter. My Grandmother used to say "Now it's in the hands of politicians, may God help us all."

[@Alarix246]

Well what do we know about what actual "work" (meaning promising things like letting Chinese do this or that) did Joe Biden do for China? We can see the opportunities exactly like these within your sentences.

[@ArawnOfAnnwn]

You're vastly overestimating the value of this video. There was nothing particularly remarkable or juicy revealed in it.

[@simonphoenix3789]

@@ArawnOfAnnwn I think he's overestimating the capability of our politicians more than anything. We have essentially taken a passive role in the world nowadays, at least when it comes to China.

[@jorger1818]

@@simonphoenix3789 The thing is, geopolitically, our politicians aren't the ones projecting power or influencing other officials, that's all the navy and the CIA. The thing about those departments of the US's government is that they are quite well funded and very aware of what's going on in the world no matter who's in charge in DC.

[@patrickmcelligott5646]

You might be completely amazed at how so many obvious things are not observed by government

[@falcon2489]

I stumbled upon this video and dude, you’re storytelling is phenomenal! The way you interwove politics and geopolitics while staying balanced the whole way through was some great journalism. Also combined with the visuals, etc. I’m not even sure if this is the type of content you regularly produce but you seem to have quite a good grasp and understanding of the current geopolitical situation, at least in the Pacific, so considering writing/narrating pieces like this in the future. Subbed!

[@kf10147]

I HIGHLY recommend going back through the backlog of videos! My favorites are the god of corn demands your blood and the last lamb of god. They are all good. Welcome to Rare Earth!

[@1A2A3A4A3.]

Thank you! This is what doing the right thing looks like

[@Muscles_McGee]

It's not your war yet. Bad things at scale happen to pretty much everyone. You made the right call. Fortuitous meeting those chaps in that park.

[@threemothers]

I’m always excited when I see a post from rare earth. It’s like opening a gift and ripping the gift wrap off. Thanks so much for the pleasure

[@thezurban7209]

Well Evan, it's been about 5-6 years since I've watched one of your videos, it's good to see you've maintained your same level of integrity and drive to tell the truth how you see it. Good storytelling.

[@scpatl4now]

After reading the comments...I don't think many of you realize that Evan is Canadian

[@mitchellbrown9713]

Yes. His comments about the U.S. and its’ claim on Hawaii come from a Canadian. But somehow, that just makes the story of the overheard conversation much scarier.

[@gregchris418]

The pizza says Brooklyn, let's trace it like the Romanian cops did with that douchebag Tate lol

[@RareEarthSeries]

​@@gregchris418North of Brooklyn, a good Toronto pizza company

[@gregchris418]

@@RareEarthSeries north of Brooklyn here means Queens NY lol nothing good comes out if Brooklyn

[@Interitus1]

@@gregchris418 Do you know how many pizza places say Brooklyn, I'm in Vancovuer (Canada) and we have a place called "Straight outta Brooklyn"

[@jorehir]

Masterfully narrated. And the situation analysis was on point.

[@huxleyorwellrand3137]

Sorry about your upcoming accident.

[@NewCastleIndiana]

A hallmark card sentiment if ever I heard one.

[@TheLivetuner]

You’re thinking about Russia, China is more about clandestine incarceration.

[@ArawnOfAnnwn]

I doubt China would care lol. There's nothing particularly juicy he found out.

[@jasonstormsong4940]

I look forward to seeing your prediction come true, would be a genuine surprise if the fearmongering actually manifested.

[@rosaluxemburg1670]

I’d rather put my cards in withChina 🇨🇳 The Fascists, Monarchs, and Right Wingers in Taiwan are far worse and more evil as long as they're an Imperialist vassal state of The US @@TheLivetuner

[@i.am.3]

Great reporting and thanks for bringing it to the public's attention. Fun fact, Some of these islands were ruled by Spain, Germany, Japan, and the US. They used to have older generations that could speak fluent German and Japanese. The US history in the region is a complicated one but have you ever wondered why when filling out most government forms in the US you see Micronesia, Palau and the Marshall Islands listed as states that you can choose from along all the other US states? That's because these island nations are what's considered Freely Associated States of the United States and they are the only ones in the world. As such, their citizens can enter the U.S without visa restrictions and even join the U.S armed forces and many has made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom along their American counterpart. Their currency is the dollar, English is the official language and their zip codes are US zip codes with the USPS. The US government is responsible for their defense but at the end of the day, they are a sovereign nation and that's why China has been trying to entice them with all kinds of gifts and "opportunities". As the video mentions, these waters are crucial to America as they are to China. Whoever controls it has more power and influence in the region.

[@Alarix246]

Well there should be ports with the Pacific fleet on anchor there, correct? I mean it should be rather obvious that the US navy has bases there and that this this connection isn't accidental.

[@drippenbach]

Thank you for posting these videos. I also visited Kosrae this past year around April during Spring break. I actually taught Mr. Panuelo’s son Health in Pohnpei. But on topic, the whole system of politics over there is so messed up. It reminds me of the Gilded Age in America. Pretty much every business is tied to a politician. Great job on the videos. And thanks again for bringing up the corruption from these islands. Because they are so small their isn’t really any oversight. Just look at what happened to Nauru. P.S thanks for mentioning the clam farm. The German Clam farmer sent his son to Hawaii for high school so he could use all the attention he can get. Kalanghan and God Bless🇫🇲

[@emilylee9894]

What does "so he could use all the attention he could get" mean?

[@drippenbach]

@@emilylee9894 it’s expensive to send kids for schooling overseas.

[@thomaslai1381]

Taiwanese-Canadian here, thank you for making this video. It was depressing to come across but felt vital to watch.

[@dougules]

I'm not sure how much it changes, but sunshine on events like these is always a good thing. I hope the Micronesian people see this.

[@JTLI90]

Oh, we see this alright.

[@angsern8455]

Listening to this story, it seems all of them already know about it

[@d3thkn1ghtmcgee74]

They know their position and they know they are a poor and weak country. They also know they are in a good position to play off of the great powers to help make their country more wealthy especially considering they know climate change is making their lives more difficult in the future.

[@ArawnOfAnnwn]

What're they going to see? From the video it's evident they already know this stuff happens. And ultimately there wasn't really anything juicy revealed anyway.

[@d3thkn1ghtmcgee74]

@@hansskilling6809 yes very true. Like he stated in the video everyone is pretty much in the know because of clan politics lol.

[@mfmatthew420]

Great video, love the perspective you gave about the sudden changes at the end - fair play sending that text! Amazing story!

[@seanphurley]

wow, thank you, definitely brave. Much value in hearing concrete stories like this even without specific evidence of something criminal. I would not have sent the letter to the president until I was onboard my flight!

[@mikaeelmalik1724]

The chinese official that didn't think the random canadian would put his secret convo on the internet💀💀

[@JL-yt5hy]

The CCP are hopeless, always leaving information everywhere, including sensitive stuff on the internet and forums. 😂😂

[@waiguoren]

seems like he knew, not the Micronesian government though.

[@MarkChamberlain-gq6ru]

The one he's speaking about, Zhao.

[@ShawnRitch]

Loved that phrase " When there's a vacuum, things tend to suck " lol So true Your a brave man. Thank you -- love your work :)

[@WmJared]

25 years from now "Kata and I turned the Chinese surveillance agent assigned to us" Evan: "this story starts in March of 2023, or November of 2035, or nowhere, really, because who can say when a state's interests truly begin?"

[@LeccareNewHandle]

When you choose the next island location for your series, after this video, Taiwan might be a better option than Hainan.

[@lasagnajohn]

What? No way, Hainan is WAY WAY cheaper and more fun.

[@LeccareNewHandle]

@@lasagnajohn After this video, it would be bad for his health.

[@ArawnOfAnnwn]

@@LeccareNewHandle Pfft! China likely doesn't even know he exists, let alone cares. This video isn't gonna bother them as it's not exactly much of a bombshell he found out. Just some garden variety influencing. Nothing juicy or sensitive.

[@havencat9337]

Hainan its really only for fun and cheap! def better then TW

[@havencat9337]

just check Sanya on google and you can see how much better is. no industry just tourism, fruits and fun

[@alansmith2203]

Love your style of journalism. You are worth the time to listen to. Lived in Guam for a couple of years back in the late 60's as a military dependent. Even went to the Univ of Guam for 2 semesters. I don't know what it is like out there now, but you would be surprised how fractured the different island groups are towards one another. One day, I'm at the Univ of Guam....a group of islanders from Yap were kicking up pieces of coral on the campus. One of the Guamanians said to me, "Watch this, they're gonna fight." Before I knew it the Yap guys were hurling chunks of coral at the Palauans...and vice versa. I asked my friend what is going on. He said alot of Micronesians come to UoG to study. But there are offenses between the islanders that go back for many years. You can see this competitive nature amongst islander groups in Herman Melville's, gem of a book called Typee. Even on a small island a different valley will kill another valley's man on sight. China always has and always will play the long game. It is surprising how cunning and good they are at what they do. They out think and out plan western governments. A day of reckoning will come within the next ten years. A lot depends on what China thinks they can get away with. If you think they aren't paying close attention to Ukraine/Russian conflagration you been sleeping. China has it's own weaknesses. Over 70 percent of China oil imports come from the middle east. They literally have no way to protect their supply lines through the Indian Ocean and the Malacca Straits. Huge problem to fight wars without oil...at least for now. Couple the problem of Japan, Korea, Australia, P.I. , Guam, New Zealand placing a lid on expansion eastward. Scary times, man.

[@YoungGandalf2325]

How can you sit there and not eat that pizza? If I was you, I'd be talking with my mouth full and the pizza would be finished by the end of the video.

[@RareEarthSeries]

don't worry that's movie magic the pizza sat there for about 45 seconds

[@TheBanana93]

I trusted that you wouldn't commit pizza abuse and I was right

[@Creadeyh]

@@RareEarthSeries Nice, I was worried that pizza would be cold

[@biponacci]

come for the content, stay for the pizza care

[@robertcarpenter7486]

Is that trivial comment all you have to offer. Sad

[@JuJu-fi8oo]

Not sure how this 4-month old video was pushed my way, but i'm so glad it did. It was so well narrated. Just drew me in and kept me listening. Wonderful!

[@XSpamDragonX]

I think it's fitting how many people are now entering Bully Hayes without his consent. Edit: Thanks for the correction, his name is not Billy.

[@stapuft]

this comment confuses me...... could someone please explain it to me like i was a five year old?

[@stapuft]

like i googled, and found out about him, how he escaped from a turkish prison after being arrested for smuggling hash.......but isnt he a free man now? so if its a "dropping the soap joke" i REALLY dont get it.....

[@jimmyisawkward]

@@stapuft 2:29 Billy Hayes was a famous person and rapist of islands (there’s another video on him in this series), and now there are Chinese diplomats entering the restaurant in his name. So instead of him (a foreigner) entering people without consent, there are now foreigners entering him without consent.

[@stapuft]

@@jimmyisawkward "rapist of islands" DAMN okay thats NOT the dude i ended up looking up then, i WAS watching the video but decided to look at comments, and then went on a rabbit hole about billy hayes, NOW i have to go another one to find out about THIS billy hayes.....

[@jeremysmith4620]

Bully. Bully Hayes. Very important and probably why another commenter is so confused about this comment. Bully Hayes. Did no one watch the video? It shows the sign reading "Bullys." Very different than the American Billy Hayes which probably only had some hash inside him at one time or another. Bully Hayes was a pirate to put it lightly.

[@SteveSmith-os5bs]

Thanks for the video, when I was a kid I used to live in Palau, I know my dad spent a week in Kosrae. I am sure your video has made a splash in the international intelligence community. It’s not like China’s going to have any hard feelings over this. I mean you just blew their whole operation for Kosrea.

[@Nikki_the_G]

Holy shit, what a situation to find yourself in. I agree with what you did, for what's that worth but again, I couldn't blame another for refusing to get involved... What a life you lead, heh.

[@garyblack8717]

He was already involved. I think by going public it at least makes it look less like he was in someone's employ at the time.

[@Nikki_the_G]

@@garyblack8717 Texting the President (or whoever in the government) with that information is a level of involvement many would not have taken.

[@LibertyMonk]

@@Nikki_the_G What about texting your drinking buddy's family member? I would have never just anonymously reported something to the government of a place I'm just passing through, but if I just told the story to a local over a drink and they were like "hey, I know a guy who knows the president," that's a different story. Now I have a face and a personality linked to it. I might still just, not, but there's a chance I would at that point.

[@robertking3246]

This is without a doubt one of the best channels on KZbin. The content never ceases to surprise, entertain, and educate me; Essentially everything that I want out of videos is present here. This is particularly refreshing amongst the frothing waves of short-form, dopamine- drain content that we are barraded with every day.

[@twostepcub]

this is fascinating and scary at the same time.

[@incrediblemountainer]

Well done dude. Great video. All are great. Keep em coming!

[@bebeandjohnnotsonomadiclif5287]

Hey, just wanted to say Thank you. Thank you. Love this kind of work.

[@attemptedunkindness3632]

"I spied on some international intrigue while me and my wife ate out inside of Bully Hayes" is a sentence I would throw around at every stranger forever deadface seriously.

[@chriseidam7319]

This was a fascinating video. Thanks. I had a similar, though much less significant experience. My wife and I were eating Thai food and were sitting next to two Mafiosa that were discussing a crooked land deal in which they had a connection in the southern part of the Rhode Island at a municipal zoning department that would get them new zoning for a property they had or planned to acquire. Obviously, taking 10 or so acres of residential property and magically converting it to commercial property will increase the value multiple magnitudes with the stroke of a pen and the seal of a rubber stamp, especially in Rhode Island, which has by far the most expensive average value for land per-acre of any state in the US. My wife at the time was a recent immigrant. I had already told her about Rhode Island's history with the Mafia. When we left the restaurant I explained what we had just overheard. I didn't dare report what I overheard. I didn't know who they were, and I didn't know what connections they had to people in law enforcement in the state.(I've learned more than once that you cannot trust law enforcement to be honest.) I give you props for a forwarding the conspiracy information to the governor. That was brave. Your story would make the foundation of an interesting movie. A classic fish-out-of-water scenario. May you have an enjoyable Thanksgiving. P.S. - I recommend you reach out to famed geopoliticalist Peter Zeihan. He would gobble this up with delight.

[@JohnNorton5280]

I’ve been pondering this part of the Risk board for 30 years. The most cogent analysis I’ve ever heard. Living in Korea and China for 8 years, I’ve heard many takes.

[@OnlyFactsPlease]

this is better tv, than tv ever was or could be

[@WindTurbineSyndrome]

I overheard secret meetings in Starbucks in various towns. Once it was two big studio heads arguing over who made more money that year and one noodling the other to get his daughter into a school the first was in the Board of.

[@jeanneganrude8549]

Not quite the breaking news of the video, but it’s your start in the world of spies 😂

[@ArawnOfAnnwn]

@@jeanneganrude8549 The video didn't exactly have much in the way of any juicy revelations either tbh.

[@bilibiliism]

@@ArawnOfAnnwn yeah. I was waiting for the information that is in the title but I didnt get it. throughout entire video taiwan was not mentioned.

[@connynoren]

Randomly clicked on reddit, got interested in the subject, stayed for the fantastic narration. I'd listen to any audiobook with you as the voice.

[@RareEarthSeries]

That's really nice of you to say, thank you!

[@evildude109]

Boy do you have a great backlog ahead of you. Every episode is this good.

[@alibeth4839]

A lot of kosraes people lived in my area of Minnesota. A couple are very close friends of ours. These are really good people in general. They have excellent food. I have never seen them even eat pizza. Lots of pork and chicken, and really good islander food, but never pizza. And that land belongs to one of my best friends, who inherited it from his father, approximetely 15yrs ago. And someone may have stole it. They hated that he inherited that land. Last I heard, they moved back to kosrae, and the land owner opened a restaurant and a couple other small buisnesses on his land. And last I heard, his family was a big part of the government. They spoke English well, because they lived in America for a long time.

[@dangough8587]

Thank you for remembering to decide your own fate. I appreciate your work and your sense of humour. Although my words mean less to you than they do to me, "keep up the amazing work" also thank you to the "Protestant Divas" that keep you in check.

[@ex-engineer6657]

Thanks very much, both of you. I really like the disclaimer with credits at the end. I hope you have inspired others to step up and help as opportunities present.

[@e2rqey]

And here I thought China had banned Rare Earth exports!

[@cuteincolour4289]

Only to the US and Allies

[@HarryWHill-GA]

This is absolute intelligence GOLD. It probably confirmed a bunch of information obtained by other sources. Good on you for sending that text and making this video.

[@Russell.S]

you know this already, but the pacific island nations have all, to some degree, become entangled with China through development assistance for infrastructure projects and other incentives for a number of years. As has the US, moreso in Micronesia than elsewhere for historical reasons. Pacific island nations have been kicked around by superpowers for hundreds of years and know how to capitalize on their strategic value (as you also stated). This comment isn’t really adding anything to your thorough and balanced take on the context of that overheard conversation, but an acknowledgment that indeed a cold war is going on in the Pacific. Thank you for sharing this.

[@DeirdreSM]

Wow, that's fascinating and sphincter tightening. Did you have any of the lovely green tangerines on Kosrae? I only had an Island Hopper stop there, but I remember them fondly.

[@colostomybag9201]

16:47 "if there’s a vacuum thing tend to suck" might be one of the greatest sentences in political science ever

[@rossjohnson1872]

Prior to WWII Japanese "businessmen" were everywhere and on vacation. The 12 page letter was a sales "fluster" to shake down more flowers and candy from the Chinese suitors. Too bad it is too late for Micronesia to play hard to get to get more. She is being seriously stalked.

[@mattihaapoja8203]

???

[@rossjohnson1872]

@mattihaapoja8203 "She" is Micronesia. Chinese agents are following same game plan as Japan did prior to WW2. Did this clear up my comment for you? German "businessmen" did the same in the 1930's.

[@SeanDustman]

Good job at bringing this shade into the light, the super powers tend to roll over the small guys and before in history, it was things that happened vaguely over "there". The little peoples have voices now and that shady shit doesn't get swept under the rug as easily. Thankful for people like you who do the morally right thing.

[@raymondchu0604]

I hope you can visit Matsu and Kinmen Islands one day, an interesting place where Chinese flags and Taiwanese flags fly on the same street. The Chinese influence is deeply rooted in both places and before the pandemic, both places heavily relied on Chinese tourists, even supplying water to Kinmen.

[@travislrogers]

What a brilliant story teller! So well done!

[@Leonlion0305]

Thank you for shedding some light on this issue. I knew Taiwan and micronesia had diplomatic relationships but I honestly did not know how important they are to Taiwan in this sense. I am definitely not surprised which how much the CCP is willing to do in order to gain a little bit more advantage in the case of a war. They even bribe US state governors (well, making MOAs and inviting them to China). As a Taiwanese, I know how much the CCP want Taiwan. So it is obviously important to know everything that could possibly gave China the confidence to invade us. As a Canadian who grew up in the States, observing US closely and understanding its importance for managing world order. So after comparing between US and China, I still prefer US. For the fact that one is (still) democratic and values trust and cooperation while the other is authoritarian and created a Orwellian dystopia, a place where everyone is checking each other's speech/thinking, and a nation of people that cheers when disasters occur in other countries.

[@anguianoalan100]

Not anymore really our government is passing laws that make China look democratic lol the new laws they are trying to pass federally that would band us from boycotting any company that isreal supports isreal. Congress using the excuse of TikTok to try to pass laws the control our freedom of speech and states already have laws that prevent any company receiving money from the state from hiring any employee that refuses to sign an affidavit stating they have never and will never boycott isreal or talk bad about isreal failure to sign it means you will be fired and a lot of states already have those laws. To be honest you view the US from a good lens but the reality is we may be a democratic country in paper but in principle we are not that’s how trump one the majority didn’t want him yet he won, the majority wanted Barney as president but the Democratic Party realized his to progress and refuse to put him as a candidate and so we ended up with Biden against the will of the people. Us the majority of the people want free healthcare but the corrupt politicians don’t listen and make sure we can only pick between corrupt politicians. As someone from the US I can tell you over 70% of the population don’t trust our government to do the right things and or believe our government represents the will of the people. Something it should do if it was democratic I mean Congress everyday gives the cia more and more power to spy on us both at home and abroad they pass laws to strip our freedoms not very democratic

[@moumous87]

I’ve said it already. This channel is a gem.

[@paladro]

i would argue, what you witnessed/overheard goes on with every nation on the planet... like one only needs to the look at where the wealth lies in any country(your own?), find those families with that wealth and you'll find who is bribing foreign officials under the table, subverting the public interest more often than not.

[@dindings]

Breaking news: KZbinr son of astronaut is now in reeducation in the outskirts of Beijing. Canadian government issues an apology for not apologizing before the incident

[@IRosamelia]

Plot Twist: Evan is an undercover secret spy astronaut chinese counterintelligence officer! Actually that title seems rather highfalutin as compared to the actual event. At least the pizza was good 🍕

[@RareEarthSeries]

Government meetings tend to be rather uninteresting in practice. It's what they underpin that's worth paying attention to.

[@LanceWinslow]

Agreed. My Dad used to fly for Air Micronesia (part of Continental Airlines at the time) - he and my mom still have friends on many of the islands and have told me similar stories. All that you observed here is real. And...we know all this from China's other infiltration on all the other South Pacific Islands. This is a future challenge to the US Navy and our military bases in Guam and other locations. Great video.

[@alexcheng1560]

The name’s Evan, Evan Hadfield🤵🏻‍♂️ But man, that’s very brave of you, much appreciated as a Taiwanese citizen

[@chieftanke]

Can you try to contact any Taiwan's or Overseas Chinese big KZbinr over this? Maybe @Bailingguo News @王志安 etc? More people needs to know this

[@JTLI90]

And as a Micronesian… I had hoped that we would be aligned with Taiwan by now. But the current govt isn’t changing that anytime soon…

[@dabo5078]

Nope no such thing as "Taiwanese citizen". Keep dreaming.

[@dabo5078]

@@JTLI90 No you won't unless you want to be destroyed economically.

[@carnum1159]

@@dabo5078funny you say that because the chinese economy aint doing too well right now

[@isaiahdavid835]

They were trying to make sure you will make a blog on them, hoping that it might go viral.

[@notsomeone50]

Another thing to note is that Micronesia, Palau, and the Marshall Islands are in compacts of free association with the United States, providing them billions of dollars each year and military protection in exchange for US military bases.

[@mattcolver1]

One time I was at a bar. I overheard a couple mafia guys bragging about hits they'd made. They were all at the bar after going to a funeral. Those guys go to a lot of funerals. I swear it was exactly like Good Fellas. I quietly left after a short while. Figured ignorance would be the best policy at that point. The high cost to U.S. taxpayers for the U.S. being the world's policemen is frustrating to many Americans, me included. However the alternative is probably much worse.

[@paiwanhan]

I subscribed for your ecology deep dives, and loved your series in Micronesia. Never thought your videos will hit so close to home. Thank you for making this video, as publishing anything negative about China would often draw its ire and impact your revenue. So you are putting yourself at risk for doing the right thing. Taiwan and the US could make the world safer by reforming our voting system from first-past-the-post to any ranked choice method that satisfies the Condorcet criterion. If we minimize China's ability to influence our elections, China will be less confident in their ability to disrupt our will to resist their expansion.

[@richardhawkins2248]

My wife reached the point one time where she asked me if we were going to be able to just take a vacation. Three times on vacation I caught all kinds of pics everything. One led to a huge capture of a cell in another country. Fortunately, I haven't had any more for a good while. Don't get me wrong it's an awesome feeling. You know that already. LOL Great video. When on vacation pay attention.

[@knockeledup]

A cell of what?

[@richardhawkins2248]

@@knockeledup think 911 one of those cells

[@ANO-.-NYM]

"One led to a huge capture of a cell in another country" Man, schizophrenics always have grandiose ideas of what their actions do- when it's actually just them in psychosis lol.

[@richardhawkins2248]

@@ANO-.-NYM Just took a look at what you have on your channel. Anima etc. How old are you skippy? It explains your response.

[@richardhawkins2248]

@@ANO-.-NYM BTW All I did was notice and report because I knew who to talk to. I'm sure that to you it was a massive heroic act. It wasn't. It was just an interesting thing that happened. I knew what to look for and recognized it. You wouldn't have a clue.

[@JasonNickel]

Now every day without a new video is a day in fear that Evan has been „taken care of“

[@joythought]

"utopianisms sharpened into knives to stab you with". Ouch, I feel that everyday.

[@aust1ntexas235]

This episode was produced thanks to a wavering belief in people deciding their own fate…

[@bbd121]

Congratulations on 1 million subscribers!

[@georgeholloway3981]

It is important for the whole world that China does not take Taiwan. It had no legitimate claim on that country and they should not be allowed to commit such a crime.

[@kranzonguam]

Well done! As a long-term resident of the region, this story needs to be spread everywhere! The US needs to step up and engage in this struggle! Thank you!

[@joythought]

So does Australia. We Aussies have been letting down our neighbours for the last 20 years. But I am really impressed by our foreign minister Penny Wong. She is tough and looks set to build better relationships in the region.

[@Alarix246]

What if the non-engagement is exactly what Biden gets his money from China for?

[@Alarix246]

What if China played the decisive role in Biden being elected?

[@variyasalo2581]

I spent my first year in the American military on Guam. I'm sure it has changed a lot since I was there. I hope they still have the sailing race around Guam. That was a trip I won't ever forget!

[@marcs5117]

China needs to step in too to free the pacific islanders from western control

[@m.streicher8286]

If this video was on a lesser channel I'd have assumed it was click bait

[@AndyViant]

Not just weaken Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Guam and the Philippines. Look at what it does to access support and resupply of Australia where the US has been investing in military facilities and Joint Training Exercises. Equally so to other allies like New Zealand, and France through French Polynesia and New Caledonia.

[@ellamae6360]

It’s true though. China is deploying many troops in the artificial reefs

[@Obsidian-Nebula]

For the record THIS GUY DOES NOT LOOK SUICIDAL

[@Anthrofuturism]

This is really admirable and brave. Thank you. You made the right decision.

[@loquatmuncher]

Thanks for putting this out there.

[@PlentyofFodder]

Evan’s out there acting like a real life Michael Weston lmao

[@JonnesTT]

"If theres a vacuum, things tend to suck." is a weirdly raw line. Maybe it's just raw because it's true.

[@zowlambda]

Thank you for making this video and telling the local government what is going on with Chinese officials visiting the region. Just one thing: there is no re-unification with China, as the PRC has never controlled Taiwan and the Qing dynasty never controlled all the territory of the main island (actually, the Japanese controlled more than then). They just call it "re-unification" to give it a poetical ethnonationalistic vibe of "we are all Han and speak mandarin, we should all be united". Which is a blatant lie, as the "chinese" that colonized the island did mix with the austronesian natives, and didn't speak Mandarin. The myth of a mostly Han Taiwan was mostly a product of the KMT indoctrination. And a Mandarin-as-official-language was also a product of this brutal government and their totalitarian policies.

[@benfoot4212]

I am glad you sent that text. Good on you. It was the right thing to do

[@garrettmillard525]

No one better to answer the door on this one than you two.

[@kenhnsy]

This all makes perfect sense now that you told your story. I think this IS your/our fight.

[@freshtapcoke]

This is 100% meant positively: this is the strangest video I’ve seen in a while and it touched me in a strange way. Very well written.

[@kelpsie]

Show us on the doll where the strange video touched you

[@Alarix246]

Rather unusual and cynical delivery, but 💯🎯

[@ArawnOfAnnwn]

@@Alarix246 He's been to places that were victims of the west as well, like Gautemala. The cynicism is there in his other vids as well, precisely because he's seen the bad side of his own side. That said, he's always been a humanist. He generally celebrates people, not geopolitical teams. So he isn't a full cynic, more someone who doesn't let himself be taken in by grandiose rhetoric.

[@CryptoMafia]

We have Chinese cells all over America now

[@Nzombii]

Honestly if anyone gets blowback from this video, it will be the Chinese “diplomat”

[@anneloving8405]

We will never know.

[@tacopilot]

Thanks for sharing this, I think there could be thousands of other encounters like yours but they would never have seen the light of day because the witnesses would not have what it took to come forward.

[@jimmyisawkward]

>Created by EVAN HADFEILD who originally wrote this script three times as long but has spared you all his ramblings Man now I want all those ramblings put on patreon

[@albevanhanoy]

#ReleaseTheEvanCut

[@GuntherRommel]

Right? I would love to get the Director's Cut.

[@brittpetersen5310]

You are an incredible writer and orator !

[@mahoslash]

God as a Taiwanese we gotta assist a lot more to our allies in Micronesia.

[@joythought]

Taiwan, Australia, Philippines, Indonesia, etc: we all have to work together more closely and with smaller nations in our region.

[@TJH1]

What a bloody good video, bravo! I am not going to get political but this video illustrated beautifully that every voice can count. Love the comment about the theft of Hawaii, double bravo!

[@Americanbadashh]

Taiwan matters because they make most of the world's Microchips and nearly all the worlds high end microchips and everything runs on microchips or high end microchips. If China controls them or can blockade the seas around them they can make the world do whatever they want. As everything from smartphones and computers to nuclear power stations relay on these chips and they wear out and need replacing sometimes. If they can't be replaced quickly that could mean another Fukushima. It's so much more than just shipping lanes, and military control. Though that is part of it.

[@mauricereeves7642]

It’s not just the economic control of the chips. It would be the ability to put whatever they want on those chips. Chinese control of microchips means Chinese control of all microchips. The ability for China to harvest data from those chips.

[@user-tk1jj1cp9x4]

Thanks your efforts. Nice one. Appreciate it, as I live here in Taiwan. One quick thing though: regarding "being happy with the status quo": 90% of Taiwanese are happy with the status quo. It's not some situation that needs to be addressed, this status quo business. No actual problem there. Can just draw the line very clearly at "nobody here wants to be coerced by China let alone invaded by them." Cheers.

[@RareEarthSeries]

There are more included in that statement than the Taiwanese, however. There are parts of the world who benefit from a rising China, also. Many on this planet are not happy with the status quo. The statement isn't directly talking about Taiwanese independence when saying that, but rather the commonly-shared human desire to shake things up when their chips are down.

[@user-tk1jj1cp9x4]

I suppose it's possible some people could benefit from China's invasion of peaceful and democractic Taiwan. I probably wouldn't put that in my moral calculus, but it's true-there are random positive externalities to anything, including invasions of peaceful countries.

[@KyoushaPumpItUp]

You're brave for uploading this. I pray for your family's safety.

[@alcab4855]

So Andrew. If you’ve been following the latest arrest in Singapore with Chinese nationals. Apparently it involved over 2 billion dollars with of assets that was gained from criminal activity. The issue that particularly caught my eye is, these individuals held multiple passports from different countries like, Cambodia, Vanuatu, Cyprus and Dominica. I believe there’s going to be a crackdown on multiple passport holders in the future or more stringent process for getting one.