WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Wednesday pleaded guilty to violating US espionage law, thereby culminating a long legal battle that saw him serve time in a UK prison. The hearing happened in the court in the US Pacific island territory of Saipan and saw Assange leaving a free man, before boarding a flight to his home in Australia.
Interestingly, one of the most prominent legal battles in the history of the US was fought on an island in the Northern Mariana Islands that dot the Pacific Ocean.
Known for its secluded beaches and Second World War time shipwrecks, the US government chose Saipan for the hearing despite the country having over 100 courts. The court in Saipan was chosen due to its proximity to Assange's native Australia and his opposition to travelling to the mainland US.
According to Australian public broadcaster ABC, Assange’s legal team feared he could potentially face the death penalty or life imprisonment if he went to the U.S. mainland. They believed they wouldn't be able to get him back out if he landed in the US.
The Northern Mariana Islands is situated around 3,000km (1,800 miles) north of Australia and is made up of a cluster of 14 islands, including Saipan. The islands are part of the US without being a formal state like Guam and Puerto Rico. This means its roughly 50,000 residents are US citizens, but cannot vote in presidential elections.
The historical significance of Saipan is its role during the Second World War. Having witnessed the fierce Battle of Saipan between Japanese and American forces in 1944. Thousands of American soldiers and tens of thousands of Japanese soldiers were killed in the onslaught. The U.S. took control of the island after Japan was defeated in World War II. After several failed attempts to integrate with Guam, the island’s residents voted to become a U.S. commonwealth in 1975.
Today, Saipan is home to about 90% of the population of the Northern Mariana Islands. It is also a popular tourist location hosting many resorts, golf courses, beaches, nature sites, and WW2 historical sites. It attracts visitors primarily from East Asia, especially Japan, South Korea, and China, thanks to the beautiful beaches and clear waters.