[1] Per Department of State Fact Sheet, “independent state” refers to a people politically organized into a sovereign state with a definite territory recognized as independent by the U.S.

[2] Per 5 May 06 Unified Command Plan (UCP), Appendix B, paragraph 4, “USPACOM general geographic AOR for the conduct of normal operations includes the Pacific Ocean from Antarctica at 092º W, north to 8º N, west to 112º W, northwest to 50º N/142º W, west to 170º E, north to 53º N, northeast to 65º30' N/169º W, north to 90º N, the Arctic Ocean west of 169º W and east of 100º E; the People's Republic of China, Mongolia, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Republic of Korea, Japan; the countries of Southeast Asia and the southern Asian landmass to the western border of India; the Indian Ocean east and south of the line from the India/Pakistan coastal border west to 068º E, south to 5º S/068º E, west to 5º S/059º E, south to 8º S/059º E, southwest to 11º S/054º E, west to 11º S/042º E, and south along 042º E to Antarctica; Madagascar, Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii.”

[3] USPACOM does not include “territories” or “possessions” on the list of “independent states” – even though such entities exist inside the confines of the AOR and represent sovereign land.  Rationale:  the governing country is either (1) already included in the list above (e.g., the Ashmore and Cartier Islands are a territory of Australia; Australia is on the list) or (2) outside AOR boundaries (e.g., Pitcairn Islands are a territory of the United Kingdom; United Kingdom is outside the AOR).  However, IAW 5 May 06 UCP, Appendix B, paragraph 2:  For territories and possessions, “USPACOM will coordinate with the geographic combatant commanders of the governing country as required.” [within the restraints/ constraints in UCP paragraph 11]

[4] IAW paragraph 17 of the 5 May 06 UCP, USPACOM unique responsibilities regarding the Russian Federation include, “in coordination with USEUCOM, planning and, as appropriate, conducting noncombatant evacuation operations; conducting counterterrorism planning for all U.S. diplomatic missions; and carrying out force protection responsibilities in those areas of the Russian Federation east of 100ºE.”

[5] No diplomatic relations with the U.S.

[6]Per Department of State Fact Sheet: “With the establishment of diplomatic relations with China on 1 Jan 79, the U.S. government recognized the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government of China and acknowledged the Chinese position that there is only one China and that Taiwan is part of China.”