TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. on Tuesday reaffirmed his country’s ties with Taiwan despite mounting pressure from China to shift recognition to Beijing.
Speaking to Kyodo News, Whipps said, "You cannot tell me that I cannot recognize Taiwan. That's our sovereign choice as a country," he said. Beijing has tried many times to use economic offers to convince Palau to drop Taiwan, but he said only Palau has the right to decide its diplomatic ties, not larger countries.
Small island countries should be allowed to choose who they work with, he said.
The president also said that Chinese ships were conducting research and surveys in Palau’s waters without approval, and Palauan officials have evidence that equipment has been set up there, per Kyodo News. These types of activities violate international law and harm sustainable ocean management, he said, adding that Palau continues to support a rules-based “free and open Indo-Pacific.”
China’s actions in the region reflect its attitude toward small nations and their maritime rights, Whipps said. He revealed that a Chinese ambassador previously told him, “You're a small country. You shouldn't have such a big ocean. I think that's not right."
Whipps’ comments come one day after Taiwan announced Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) will embark on a five-day trip to Palau next week.
According to Taiwan’s Presidential Office, Hsiao’s visit has three goals: to deepen bilateral relations, assist Palau in promoting sustainable tourism, and review the results of cooperation projects.
Taiwan has been assisting Palau as it prepares to host this year’s Pacific Islands Forum in late August. The Palauan government is considering how to use the opportunity to demonstrate to participating delegations the tangible achievements of democratic cooperation in promoting regional development, good governance, and resilience, Michael Lin (林昭宏), director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, said in February.
Taiwan and Palau established diplomatic relations in 1999.
