Palau would not cave to diplomatic pressure from China and would remain an ally of Taiwan “until death do us part,” Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr said yesterday.
As one of the few nations that recognize Taiwan’s statehood, Palau has repeatedly risked China’s ire over the years by refusing to reverse its stance.
“China has one goal, and that is for us to renounce Taiwan,” Whipps said during a speech at Australian think tank Lowy Institute. “But we hope that they understand — that decision is a sovereign decision and no country tells us who we should be friends with.”
Photo: David Gray, AFP
“We kind of believe in that principle, that when you’re married, you’re married until death do us part,” he said.
Whipps has overseen the expansion of US military interests since winning power in 2020. That included the ongoing construction of a long-range US radar outpost, a crucial early warning system as China ramps up military activity in the Taiwan Strait.
Palau also plans to dredge sections of its commercial port, making it deeper to allow more visits from US Navy ships.
That risked painting a target on Palau’s back, Whipps said.
“Yes, there is concern that now we become a target,” he said. “I think that’s why it’s important that the ports and the airports are upgraded so that we are ready to be protected if a conflict does arise.”
“Because of our location, no matter what, we’re going to be a target for somebody,” he said.
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MULTIPRONGED APPROACH: China has sought to pressure Palau across a number of fronts, but the island nation has staunchly resisted overtures to ditch Taiwan Palau has been firm in backing Taiwan despite Chinese pressure that uses tourism economics, cyberattacks and criminal infiltration as tools to threaten the Pacific ally into renouncing its recognition of Taiwan as a sovereign state. The Presidential Office yesterday announced that Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) would visit Palau from Saturday to Wednesday next week at the invitation of Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr. Whipps in April said in an interview that China had outspokenly asked Palau to “denounce Taiwan.” “And we have said: ‘We have no enemies, but nobody tells us who our friends are,’” he said. Whipps has told reporters multiple times
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