Palau vows to stand with Taiwan ‘until death do us part’ despite Beijing pressure

Pacific Island nation’s President calls on China to respect his country’s sovereignty while outlining his government’s battle against a flood of China-linked crime syndicates targeting Palau.

Surangel Whipps Jr, President of the Republic of Palau, speaks at the 2025 FDC Pacific Leaders Address, at the Lowy Institute in Sydney. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

The President of Palau has described his tiny Pacific Island nation’s relationship with Taiwan as a “marriage until death us do part”, in defiance of an ongoing influence campaign by Beijing to have it switch loyalties.

Surangel Whipps Jr called for China to respect his country’s sovereignty and its right to choose its own friends during a Lowy Institute address in Sydney on Thursday as he outlined his government’s battle against a flood of China-linked crime syndicates targeting Palau in actions that appear aimed at undermining its resolve.

The Whipps government has launched an unprecedented crackdown on Chinese-run cyber scam and illegal online gaming operations, drug smugglers, human traffickers and money launderers with the help of Taiwan, Australia, Japan and the US.

Dozens of Chinese nationals have been deported from Palau or had their visas rejected since January.

President Surangel Whipps Jr speaking at the Lowy Institute on Thursday. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

“As members of the global family I think it’s important for us to share the real challenges we have, to make (China) know these things are not acceptable and we need to work together to stop them,” Mr Whipps said of the recent transnational crime wave in Palau.

“Whether that organised crime is government-sanctioned or whether it’s just those individuals, we need to work together to stop them.

“We do know China has one goal, and that is for us to renounce Taiwan but we hope that they understand that decision is a sovereign right and no country tells us who we should be friends with.”

Palau’s relationship with Taipei was “stronger than ever”, based on shared values of freedom, democracy, rule of law and mutual support, he added. “That doesn’t mean we have to stop trading with China or stop tourism from China but we ask for respect.”

Regional security experts say the recent uptick in transnational organised crime in Palau fits a pattern in which Chinese criminal networks infiltrate a country by building relationships with government officials and politicians, softening the ground for Chinese state influence.

Palau is one of only 12 nations worldwide to officially acknowledge Taiwan, despite the fact China is its largest source of tourists and investments.

It is also one of the United States’ closest Pacific partners as one of three signatories – with Marshall Islands and Federated States of Micronesia – to the Compact of Free Association, which entitles its population to live and work in the US and to US protection in return for the US right to set up bases there and veto any foreign military presence.

The Palau leader said his country valued that security guarantee though acknowledged Washington’s recent expansion of military infrastructure there — including a new radar system — had “unfortunately” made it more of a target if China did seek to claim Taiwan by force.

Mr Whipps said his nation viewed Australia as “family” and appreciated its embassy presence and support in health, education, disaster relief and security.

He also welcomed Qantas flights into Palau and more Australian tourists, whom he described as some of the world’s most environmentally-respectful visitors.

But Mr Whipps also called on Canberra to “demonstrate solidarity and responsibility by phasing out coal and gas production”, and halting approvals for new fossil fuel projects.

“There are islands that are going to disappear completely. Countries that will disappear completely. We have the power to ensure that doesn’t happen by making the right choices. It’s by asking the people of Australia and the rest of the world to do the right thing,” he said.

Mr Whipps said Opposition Leader Peter Dutton had done damage to Australia’s Pacific relationship in 2015 after being caught on a ‘hot mic’ in Papua New Guinea joking with then prime minister Tony Abbott about a delayed meeting that “time doesn’t mean anything when you’re about to have water lapping at your door”.

Mr Dutton later apologised for the comments but Mr Whipps said the Opposition leader should “probably stop making mistakes” if he wanted to convince Pacific leaders he cared about the climate-related challenges they faced.

“I did hear the other day that a COP would be madness,” Mr Whipps said, referring to Mr Dutton’s dismissal of Palau’s campaign to have Australia host the COP31 United Nations climate summit late next year. “When comments come off like that, you’re discounting the Pacific and you’re forgetting about the challenges we face.”