Palau President reaffirms support for Taiwan
Taipei, June 9
Palau President Surangel S Whipps Jr strongly reiterated his country's support for Taiwan during Taiwan's Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim's visit to the Pacific island nation, emphasising that Taiwan's sovereignty deserves international recognition, according to Focus Taiwan, the English-language news platform of Taiwan's Central News Agency.
Speaking at a welcome dinner in Koror, Whipps argued that denying Taiwan's sovereignty would undermine the standing of smaller nations around the world. "If Taiwan's sovereignty is not recognised, then who are we to say that we're sovereign? Might as well eliminate all small countries," he said, as reported by Focus Taiwan.
Whipps also stressed the importance of defending democratic values and international norms. "We have to stand up for freedom. We have to stand up for democracy, and we have to stand up for the rule of law," he said, according to Focus Taiwan. Palau remains one of Taiwan's 12 diplomatic allies and one of only three in the Pacific region.
The Palauan leader further praised Taiwan's achievements across various sectors, describing it as "a prosperous and growing nation" that has demonstrated leadership in healthcare, technology, aviation, and other fields, Focus Taiwan reported. He argued that Taiwan should be allowed to participate in major international organisations and forums.
"Taiwan needs to be a part of these discussions. They need to be a part of the U.N., they need to be a part of WHO, they need to be a part of ICAO," Whipps said, according to Focus Taiwan.
Reflecting on a recent trip to Japan, Whipps said he had been asked about Taiwan and reiterated that Palau's ties with Taipei remain robust. He told Japanese media that Palau's relationship with Taiwan is "strong and getting stronger", the media outlet reported.
According to the report, Whipps said the partnership between the two countries is rooted in common interests, support for a rules-based international order, and a commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
In response, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim said Taiwan President Lai Ching-te had entrusted her with three key objectives for the visit: strengthening people-to-people ties, promoting tourism to Palau among Taiwanese citizens, and reviewing projects that showcase bilateral cooperation, Focus Taiwan reported.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Look, I understand Palau wants to be friends with Taiwan. But calling Taiwan a "sovereign nation" is just wrong - it's a part of China, same as how Kashmir is a part of India. We need to respect territorial integrity, otherwise it sets a dangerous precedent for all nations. India's position on this has always been consistent: One China.
Interesting how Taiwan uses money and aid to buy diplomatic recognition from tiny Pacific nations. Palau has a population of only 18,000 people - this is not a legitimate diplomatic stance, it's a transaction. Everyone knows the One China principle is the global norm.
Whipps' argument that not recognizing Taiwan undermines small nations is absurd. The world doesn't work like that. Every country respects China's territorial integrity - it's not about size but about international law. Palau might have 12 allies, but China has 180+ countries acknowledging the One China policy. Numbers speak for themselves.
The Palau president says Taiwan should be in WHO and UN? What a joke. Taiwan is China's internal matter. India has always supported the One China policy, and rightly so. This whole "free and open Indo-Pacific" nonsense is just the US using Taiwan to destabilize China. Palau is just a pawn in a bigger geopolitical game. 😒
While I disagree with Taiwan's sovereignty claims, I think we need to be practical. Taiwan has wealthy people and strong technology - of course they can buy friends like Palau. But this is not about democracy or values - it's about money. If China offers Palau more, they'll switch allegiance in a heartbeat.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.