Palau President Surangel Whipps, Jr. has accused the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) of using tourism as a weapon to try to pressure Palau into severing ties with Taiwan. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan) stated today (16th) that in recent years, the CCP has been expanding its influence in the Pacific region through intimidation, coercion, and economic threats, as well as pressuring Taiwan’s diplomatic allies to switch allegiance. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China strongly condemned these actions.
Whipps accused the CCP of “weaponizing tourism” by trying to influence tourist numbers to force Palau to cut ties with Taiwan. This is not the first time Whipps has pointed out Beijing’s interference in Palau’s internal affairs. In June, he accused the CCP of launching a major cyber-attack on Palau, suggesting that the ransomware used was likely developed in Russia and sent from Malaysia, indicating possible ties to China.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China issued a statement today emphasizing that Palau is a friendly diplomatic ally in the Pacific region. Taiwan has always supported Palau’s tourism industry and helped establish national development policies focusing on “economic resilience.” Taiwan has actively assisted Palau in reviving its tourism industry post-pandemic by increasing direct flights between the two countries, enhancing Palau’s tourism economy resilience. On the contrary, the CCP’s actions in the Pacific region in recent years, such as expanding power through intimidation, coercion, and undermining regional peace, stability, and prosperity, have led to the switch in diplomatic allegiance of Taiwan’s allies. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China strongly denounces these actions.
President Whipps emphasized in an interview that the CCP is using “tourism as a weapon” to suppress Palau’s tourism industry and coerce Palau into changing its diplomatic relations. This situation has been a repeated warning from President Whipps, highlighting the plight of small island countries facing economic bullying from major powers. Taiwan not only empathizes with this situation but continues to provide warm and steadfast support to Palau.
Since the global pandemic restrictions have eased, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China stated that Taiwan resumed weekly flights to Palau in November 2022. This year, flights have gradually increased to four round-trip flights per week in April and July. Taiwan is pleased to see Palau offering various discounted travel packages to attract Taiwanese tourists, demonstrating the close cooperation between Palau and Taiwan in contrast to the CCP’s strong-arm tactics using economic coercion.
President Whipps stressed in the interview that the friendship between Taiwan and Palau is based on shared values. Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1999, Taiwan and Palau have maintained a solid and friendly relationship. The two countries have closely collaborated in various fields such as agriculture, fisheries, healthcare, tourism development, sports exchange, education, culture, marine conservation, and maritime security, earning the trust and appreciation of the Palauan government and people.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China will continue to echo President Whipps’ promotion of “values-based” diplomacy, working with Palau and other likeminded countries in the Pacific region to promote the friendship between Taiwan and Palau, as well as peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.