The Chinese Communist Party continues to exert pressure on the Republic of China’s diplomatic ally, the Pacific island nation of Palau, in an attempt to coerce it into cutting ties with Taiwan. Palau is set to hold presidential elections on November 5th, with the outcome being crucial to the security strategy of the United States in the region amid escalating tensions between Washington and Beijing.
Current Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr. is in a race for the presidency against former President Tommy Remengesau. In addition to the presidential race, the Palauan elections are expected to see the election of 13 members of parliament.
President Whipps recently stated in an interview with Bloomberg that Palau is facing increasing pressure from the Chinese Communist Party ahead of the national election on November 5th. China has been trying to coerce Palau into ending its support for Taiwan, especially after Nauru announced the termination of diplomatic relations with Taiwan earlier in 2024, leaving the Republic of China with only 12 diplomatic allies.
The Republic of China’s 12 diplomatic allies include 2 countries in Central America (Belize and Guatemala), 4 countries in the Caribbean (Haiti, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), 3 countries in the Pacific (Marshall Islands, Palau, and Tuvalu), as well as 1 country each in South America (Paraguay), Africa (Eswatini), and Europe (Vatican City).
President Whipps has noted that the pressure from the Chinese authorities has reached a “new height,” with Beijing issuing travel warnings advising mainland Chinese citizens not to visit Palau. He also highlighted a cyberattack on Palau in March as further evidence of Beijing’s pressure for Palau to sever ties with Taiwan.
According to reports from the Central News Agency, Palau renewed the Compact of Free Association (COFA) with Washington earlier this year. Under the agreement, Palau will receive $890 million in economic aid over the next 20 years in exchange for allowing the continued presence of U.S. military forces in its waters, airspace, and territory.
With a population of 18,000 people, Palau’s citizens are scattered across the archipelago between the Philippines and the U.S. military base in Guam. The U.S. military is constructing an over-the-horizon radar station in Palau, expected to be completed by 2026.
The Palauan Senate previously rejected a resolution to permanently station Patriot missile defense systems in Palau by the United States, putting the government’s proposal on hold.
Furthermore, Remengesau, during his campaign, emphasized the need for Palau to “ensure that foreign influence does not cast a shadow on our national identity or independence,” with his campaign team refraining from addressing specific questions regarding foreign influence as raised by Remengesau.