The President of the Republic of China’s diplomatic ally Palau, Surangel Whipps Jr., accuses the Chinese Communist Party of using “tourism as a weapon” in an attempt to sever ties between Palau and Taiwan. Palau, a small island nation in the western Pacific, is one of Taiwan’s 12 diplomatic allies.
According to reports from Agence France-Presse, countries like the Solomon Islands, Kiribati, and Nauru have recently shifted their diplomatic relations away from Taiwan and towards China. Surangel Whipps Jr. pointed out that China is exerting pressure on Palau to follow suit.
During an official visit by New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters, Surangel Whipps Jr. stated on the 14th, “We have diplomatic relations with Taiwan… China openly told us that it is illegal, and we should not recognize Taiwan.”
He further mentioned that China has informed Palau that “the sky is the limit, and we can provide you with everything you need.”
“We need economic development, but at the same time, we value our principles. We have partnerships, and we cherish our diplomatic relations with Taiwan. We are willing to be friends with China, but not at the cost of our relationship with Taiwan,” Surangel Whipps Jr. said.
He went on to accuse China of using “tourism as a weapon” to influence tourist numbers.
According to data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), about half of Palau’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) comes from the tourism industry.
Surangel Whipps Jr. pointed out, “Not long ago, there were news reports from China saying that Palau is unsafe and should not be visited.”
He also mentioned that just before attending the inauguration ceremony of Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen in May, Palau was unable to participate in the Pacific Asia Travel Association conference held in Macau, China. He said, “This is the reality we are facing.”
Surangel Whipps Jr. has repeatedly accused Beijing of interfering in Palau’s internal affairs. In June, he alleged that China conducted a major cyber-attack on Palau and said that data analysis indicated that the ransomware used was likely developed in Russia and transmitted from Malaysia, suggesting a connection to China.
(Source: Central News Agency)