TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Palau, one of Taiwan's remaining diplomatic allies, held elections on Tuesday (Nov. 5) and unofficial results show the pro-Taiwan candidate with a strong lead. 

Incumbent President Surangel Whipps Jr. is running against former President Tommy Remengesau. Whipps seeks to strengthen ties with the US and Taiwan, while Remengesau has indicated an interest in closer relations with China on climate issues and economic development, per the Guardian.

In addition to the presidential race, voters will elect 13 members of Palau’s senate.

On Wednesday, TMC Palau released unofficial results suggesting that Whipps had won the election, per Radio New Zealand. The country has 16,627 registered voters as of July 15, according to the Palau Election Commission. 

Under Whipps, Palau renewed its Compacts of Free Association (COFA) treaty with Washington in March, per Pacific Island Times. Under the agreement, Palau will receive US$890 million (NT$28.6 billion) in economic aid over the next 20 years in exchange for allowing US military forces to maintain their presence in its waters, airspace, and land.

In recent years, Palau has seen a series of failed ventures started up by China, including illegal online gambling operations, a blockchain-based insurance scheme, and a special economic zone. Local elites such as Remengesau have allegedly formed ties with the Chinese businessmen behind some of these ventures, per OCCRP.