by Richard Sanders, Staff Writer
The leader of one of Taiwan’s remaining diplomatic allies in the Pacific has stated that his country is facing increasing pressure from China to withdraw its support for Taipei. Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr. also accused China of infringing on his nation’s exclusive economic zone, which is located north of Australia.
Palau is set to hold a national election on Tuesday, coinciding with the US presidential election.
In a recent speech at the “Summit of the Future” at the UN General Assembly in New York City, Whipps emphasized that Pacific nations are committed to upholding their sovereignty and territorial integrity, but he cautioned that the competition for geopolitical influence is escalating and may pose challenges.
The United States and China are competing for influence in this region, which is crucial for shipping routes, communication networks, fisheries, and seabed resources.
Whipps acknowledged that China has been exerting significant pressure, particularly regarding the potential outcomes of Palau’s elections and their implications for its relationship with Taiwan. He noted, “It’s very clear that they have an agenda, and that agenda involves Taiwan,” adding that China attempts to label Palau’s support for Taipei as illegal.
China has leveraged its growing economic power to diminish the number of countries recognizing Taipei, especially among developing nations in the Pacific that are in need of investment and infrastructure.
Currently, only 12 countries maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan, following Nauru’s recent decision to switch recognition to Beijing. This situation has drawn the attention of foreign ministries and analysts to elections in small nations like Palau, which has a population of around 20,000 and is strategically situated between Hawaii and the Philippines.
Whipps has generally supported US President Joe Biden’s initiatives to strengthen ties with the Pacific, even incorporating the “Build Back Better” slogan into his re-election campaign. He has also expressed interest in enhancing security relationships with the US, including the potential deployment of US missile systems to Palau.
Although the president has criticized China’s regional actions, he did not provide specific examples of Beijing pressuring his administration to sever ties with Taiwan. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to a request for comment on Whipps’ statements.
Whipps is in a close re-election race against former Palauan president Tommy Remengesau Jr., who has questioned the necessity of deepening military connections with the US but has historically supported relations with Taiwan.
Whipps also voiced his opposition to seabed mining, a point of contention with Beijing. Despite global interest in exploring the ocean floor for critical minerals, he argued against disrupting the marine environment, emphasizing the importance of preserving the region’s healthy tuna stocks.
He expressed frustration over unauthorized Chinese vessels entering Palau’s exclusive economic zone, which extends 200 nautical miles (370 km) from its shores. Previously, Whipps accused China of restricting Chinese tourism to Palau, a sensitive issue for the tourism-reliant nation.
“This is where nations that believe in freedom, democracy, and the rule of law need to unite and protect their interests,” Whipps warned.
