SAIPAN (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)

Context: Julian Assange is heading to a courtroom in Saipan to plead guilty to a single criminal charge as part of a plea deal. This agreement will allow him to walk free and return home to Australia after a 14-year legal battle.

Saipan

• About: It is the capital of the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. commonwealth in the western Pacific which begins roughly 70 kilometers north of Guam and stretches across 14 islands.
• U.S. Commonwealth Status: Like territories such as Guam or Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands are part of the U.S. without the full status of a state.
• Citizenship and Voting Rights: The roughly 51,000 residents are U.S. Citizens but cannot vote in presidential elections. Crucially, some, like Saipan, also host U.S. district courts.
• Historical Background: The U.S. took control of Saipan during World War II. After decades under U.S. control, residents in 1975 voted to join the U.S. as a territory. The territory has a permanent delegate in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Northern Mariana Islands

• About: It is a self-governing commonwealth in association with the United States.
• Composition: It is composed of 14 islands and islets in the western Pacific Ocean.
• Principal Islands: These are Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.