President Of Palau: The CCP Can’t Decide Whom We Make Friends With

According to the reports on December 15th, Palau, one of Taiwan’s few allies in the Pacific, despite the economic threats from the CCP, still firmly believes that the CCP cannot tell it Who to be Friends With. On the same day, Palau President, Surangel Whipps held a joint press conference with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, calling on agencies to allow Taiwan to participate in the UN after the CCP continued to obstruct Taiwan’s participation in the United Nations. At present, the number of countries with which Taiwan has diplomatic relations has now shrunk to 14 under the CCP’s vigorous obstruction. Palau is similarly under financial pressure from the CCP. In the past, the island used to get up to 80% of its visitors from Communist China, but in 2017, the CCP removed Palau from its list of approved tourist destinations and required it to abandon its dealings with Taiwan.

Whipps said the withdrawal of tourists from Communist China has hurt the country’s economic growth and put it back into the low-income category. But he can’t accept the way the CCP is treating them. The CCP should not force which ones to be friends with. Palau has clearly stated that there is a diplomatic relationship with Taiwan. Like Australia and the United States, Taiwan has been a strong ally and partner for Palau. It is important to continue this relationship.