Palau President Emphasizes Autonomous Choice of Allies After China Demands Abandonment of Taiwan Recognition
Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. stated that China "very directly" demanded Palau abandon its diplomatic recognition of Taiwan, but Palau asserted its right to choose its own allies. He also highlighted the "huge impact" of the global oil crisis on Palau's citizens and the severe threat of sea-level rise due to climate change, with some atolls potentially disappearing within years. Palau, which relies 70% on diesel for power, has seen diesel prices double and gasoline prices rise by at least 50%. Palau will host a special climate event in early September during the 55th Pacific Islands Forum leaders' meeting, ahead of COP31 in Turkey in November.
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- 📰 Published: April 13, 2026 at 19:25
- 🔍 Collected: April 13, 2026 at 19:31 (6 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 13, 2026 at 21:16 (1h 44m after Collected)
Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. informed Agence France-Presse (AFP) on April 13 that Beijing had "very directly" requested Palau to cease its diplomatic recognition of Taiwan. Whipps Jr. responded that Palau does not allow others to dictate its friendships, stating, "We have no enemies, but no one can tell us who our friends are." He further emphasized that "those of us who support Taiwan have the same rights as those who support China, and we should be treated equally." During an interview with AFP in Auckland, New Zealand, Whipps Jr. also addressed the "huge impact" of surging oil prices, triggered by the Middle East conflict, on the people of the Pacific island nation of Palau. He noted that 70% of Palau's electricity is generated from diesel, and diesel prices have doubled, affecting the entire economy and citizens' livelihoods. Gasoline prices have increased by at least 50%, posing a significant burden for commuters. Whipps Jr. acknowledged that some of Palau's atolls might disappear within the next few years due to sea-level rise caused by climate change, a threat to which Palau is highly vulnerable. Ahead of COP31 in Turkey in November, Palau will host a special climate event in early September during the 55th Pacific Islands Forum leaders' meeting. Whipps Jr. conveyed to AFP that many nations struggle to comprehend the magnitude of the climate change threat to countries like Palau, describing their current situation as "slowly dying" and "watching islands disappear." He cited an island in Palau that has shrunk to one-third of its size since his first visit in 1980, emphasizing that "we are losing land, and that is the root of our culture."