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By Fion Khan / Staff writer
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr told China that recognizing Taiwan is “our choice, not yours,” after Beijing issued threats to the country for “promoting Taiwan independence,” US news outlet Politico reported yesterday.
Whipps, who was in Australia this week to visit Palau’s newly opened embassy in Canberra, told Politico in an interview how Beijing has attempted to bring Palau into its orbit and pushed the government to “sever ties with Taiwan.”
He quoted the Chinese ambassador as telling him: “You’re a businessman and you understand China can give you a million tourists and build all the hotels you want. What are you waiting for? We have a billion people, and there’s only 23 million people over here.”
Photo courtesy of the Presidential Office
Whipps said the Chinese ambassador threatened to retaliate if he did not comply.
“To me, that is not a partnership. That’s not being a good friend. We should not be beaten, or have our sovereignty threatened, because we have made our sovereign decision to recognize Taiwan,” he told the US-based news outlet.
Asked why recognizing Taiwan is important, he said that Palau shares the values of freedom, democracy and rule of law with Taiwan.
“As a small country, understanding at times that you cannot protect your own sovereignty. You need alliances. If Taiwan can be taken over, then Palau can be taken over,” he said.
“It is so important for us to defend each other, stand up for each other,” he added.
Whipps also detailed the Chinese coercion the country with 18,000 people is facing.
China has sent research vessels into Palau’s exclusive economic zone without permits, conducted cyberattacks and brought organized crime and drugs into the country, he said.
He said he never told China that Palau does not want to be a diplomatic partner.
However, China told Palau to follow the “one China” principle, he added.
“You do not tell us that we can’t recognize Taiwan, because we do not follow the ‘one China’ principle,” he told Politico. “That is our choice, not your choice.”
