Palau is one of just 12 countries around the world that has official diplomatic ties with Taiwan. The country's president, Surangel Whipps Jr., has vowed to maintain those relations despite pressure from China to break with Taipei.
On this episode of Zoom In Zoom Out, TaiwanPlus reporter Rik Glauert sits down with President Whipps to discuss his second term as president and the future of his country's relations with Taiwan.
On this episode of Zoom In Zoom Out, TaiwanPlus reporter Rik Glauert sits down with President Whipps to discuss his second term as president and the future of his country's relations with Taiwan.
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00:00Welcome to Zoom In, Zoom Out, your global look at news from Taiwan. I'm Rick Glauert
00:18here in Palau's former capital, Coroa. Palau's President Sir Angle Whipps Jr. is starting
00:23his second term in office. Palau is a diplomatic ally of Taiwan, one of just 12 countries around
00:29the world that recognizes Taiwan's sovereignty despite pressure from China. Today, to discuss
00:35Palau's relationship with Taiwan and his plans for his next term in office, we're joined
00:40by His Excellency Sir Angle S. Whipps Jr. Mr. President, thank you so much for joining
00:45us. Thank you for being here. You won a second term in office late last year, giving you
00:50another four years as the country's president. You said you plan to diversify the economy
00:55while protecting the environment. How are you going to do this?
01:00When it comes to the ocean, one of the things that we're looking at is how do we optimize
01:03the use of those resources, but use them sustainably. So Palau many years ago passed the Marine
01:10Sanctuary Act, which closed off our EEZ to fishing, 80% of it. And one of the things
01:17that we're looking at is now that we've done studies, how do we ensure that we protect
01:22that biodiversity and really go to the optimal goal, which is 30% protected, 100% managed.
01:29And that way, the healthy oceans that we have, in turn, combat climate change, but then provide
01:35an economy that the people can use. So we've got to look at fishing as one area where we
01:41can diversify.
01:43You said Palau, home to 18,000 people across more than 300 low-lying islands, is at risk
01:49of drowning due to rising sea levels and climate change. How are you going to face
01:54this crisis?
01:56So some of the things that we're doing is, as we build back better, it's moving, for
02:02example, infrastructure away from the coast, moving to higher ground. So important for
02:07our infrastructure is building those roads, getting access to land so that people that
02:11are living along the coast, as their homes age, let's move them inland. One of our biggest
02:17challenges that we're facing going forward is our hospital. It's right next to the ocean.
02:21The wind shifted so many degrees north, and the hospital's on the first floor, we would
02:27have had inundation, and that would have destroyed our surgical ward, everything. And every time
02:32we have a storm, we move patients to my office because they're down by the sea. And this
02:40inauguration coming up, Prime Minister of Tuvalu and the President Haini of Marshall
02:45Islands will be here. And those islands have no high ground to go to. We want to ensure
02:52that those people continue to live and continue to thrive. And that's why it's so critical
03:00that we do everything we can, whether it's Palau and its conservation efforts to combat
03:07climate change or renewable energy projects, we encourage the whole planet to do their
03:12part because that's the only way we're going to make it work.
03:15The latest climate summit, COP29, disappointed a lot of people, particularly the fact that
03:21wealthier nations seemed unwilling to help poorer nations face up to the climate crisis.
03:26How can a country like Palau survive this threat?
03:31It is difficult, but I don't think that's a reason why we should give up. I think it's
03:36a reason that we should fight harder to make a difference. And, you know, one of the things
03:44I just want to share is we had a foreign minister from a very large country in the world come
03:48and visit us and went around and talked about, oh, you know, seawalls need fixed and we're
03:54ready to help. In the end, no help from them. But I have to say that what they can't do,
04:01Taiwan has done. And that's really the strength of bilateral relationships. Taiwan is helping
04:06us build seawalls. It's helping us build the infrastructure to harden those facilities.
04:10What we've got to show is we've got to demonstrate that those investments with our partners help
04:17everyone.
04:19Let's talk about your relationship with Taiwan. You've been a diplomatic ally of Taiwan for
04:23decades and despite pressure from China to switch allegiance to Beijing, you've said
04:29you've promised to stick by Taiwan. Why?
04:33I think most importantly, we're a free and democratic country. We respect rule of law,
04:42human rights, and territorial boundaries. And I think as a small nation, if those rules
04:50are not respected, then all our survival is at stake. So now more than ever, I think all
04:58countries should stand by Taiwan, big and small, because I think at the end of the day,
05:03we all want to live in peace and harmony and respect each other's territorial boundaries.
05:08And at the end of the day, that's all we're asking for. Keep the status quo and continue
05:16to work together to build a planet that we can all live in harmony.
05:21Palau is one of just 12 countries that officially recognizes Taiwan's sovereignty. And you've
05:27said that it's important for you to give Taiwan a voice on the international stage and speak
05:31up for Taiwan in places like the United Nations. Given China's objections and influence, this
05:37must be difficult. Have you personally experienced any pressure or pushback?
05:42Oh no. Chinese officials always tell us you need to do the right thing. And the right
05:47thing for them is to denounce Taiwan. And I say, well, no, that's not an option for
05:52us. We're all members of the UN. We respect your sovereignty. We respect you as a country.
05:59And you need to respect us as a country and respect our sovereignty and our decision to
06:05recognize Taiwan. And we recognize you as a country. But obviously, that's not what
06:11China wants to agree to. And so their narrative is always, we need to change what we're doing
06:19and join the rest of the world.
06:20As a Pacific island nation in a strategic location, Palau is caught between big world
06:25powers like the US and China. And your friendship with Taiwan makes you a target for Beijing.
06:32You flagged economic coercion from China, cyber attacks, and Chinese vessels entering
06:38your waters. Have you seen China's tactics change as you're entering into your second
06:42term in office?
06:44Well, we definitely see an uptick in organized crime coming into Palau. Whether it's the
06:50online gaming operations. We've had a record number of drug busts at the airport of Chinese
06:58nationals bringing in drugs. So, and these are all issues, I think, that help weaken
07:05us as a nation. And so we're very vigilant. And it's, you know, I'm glad that Taiwan is
07:10assisting us. Their Justice Department is assisting us in combating these challenges
07:17because we need good intelligence. And I watched a documentary of how China's encroaching
07:23in Nepal or Bhutan. Just, I mean, it's everywhere. And that is concerning to us because we have
07:32Chinese research vessels continuing to come into our EEZ, not respecting our boundaries
07:38in our world law. And they've even gone in to our areas and named ridges, Chinese names,
07:48undersea ridges. And then on our extended continental shelf, they're constantly surveying
07:53and try to put Chinese names on those ridges.
07:56Do you think actions like this, Chinese vessels naming geographical features, ridges, reefs,
08:03is an infringement of your sovereignty?
08:05Oh, absolutely. You know, we're a long ways from China. But to have ridges within our
08:15EEZ and on our continental shelf that have Chinese names on them because of those research
08:20vessels, to me, is a threat to our territorial boundaries. And then we're a member of UNCLOS
08:27and we're trying to establish the extended continental shelf. And China is the one that's
08:32always blocking us.
08:34How are you working with Taiwan on maritime security?
08:37I've always said that presence is deterrence. And just to give you an example, we have a
08:43patrol boat and it's 150 feet long. Those research vessels that come into Palau are
08:47500 feet long. So for us to do patrols and go out and see these vessels is, you know,
08:55it's quite intimidating. And so having our partners and allies coming and doing joint
09:00exercises with us really helps. And our whole goal of presence is deterrence. So we're grateful
09:08for the Taiwan Coast Guard to come. And we want more regular visits. I mean, that's the
09:14whole goal. We've had visits from Taiwan. We've had visits from Great Britain, France,
09:21Australia, of course, the United States. And they're increasing those frequencies. But
09:28a minister of India interior state is coming to the inauguration. And I definitely want
09:34to talk to him about Indian vessels coming and visit us because we want our allies to
09:38visit. We want the world to know that we promote freedom and democracy and a free and open
09:44Indo-Pacific is critical to all of us.
09:48China is still an important trade partner and a big investor here in Palau, leasing
09:52land and building tourism development. Given this, does this make Palau more vulnerable
09:57to China?
09:58China has been one of our top investors for the last 15 years. If you look at most of
10:05the new hotels being constructed, they're being constructed by Chinese. Yes. And a lot
10:12of what we import comes from China. You're absolutely correct. They're an important trade
10:16partner just like they are with the rest of the world. So we have to learn to balance
10:22these issues. And I think we're trade partners and we continue to be trade partners, but
10:28we also must respect each other's sovereignty. We must respect rule of law. I have the longest
10:33list of undesirable aliens of any president. And the list will continue to grow because
10:40as we gather more intelligence, we find there's people that are coming in that are a threat
10:45to our security. We will continue to add to that list to ensure that Palau remains safe,
10:50not only for Palau and its allies, but also for Chinese, because we want the Chinese people.
10:58They are important contributors to our economy and we welcome them.
11:02Do you ever rethink the decision to continue to recognise Taiwan as a small country angering
11:08China, a very powerful country? It's not an easy situation to be in.
11:13I believe that we should always stand by our principles and do what is right. And we are
11:20grateful for the friendship and the partnership that we have with the people of Taiwan. What
11:24we have learned from our friends in Taiwan is they are not a fair-weather friend. They
11:30are through thick and thin. And that's what family is all about. I mean, Taiwan, they
11:34are our family. And our roots go back to the Austronesians. So really, as family, that
11:40bond should never be broken. And we, if anything, it needs to be strengthened and nurtured.
11:48And I think President Tsai, President Lai have just had a wonderful relationship working
11:53with them to continue to nurture and strengthen that relationship. And what we want to see
11:57is more Taiwanese investment in Palau. So Minister Lin is coming to the inauguration
12:02with 45 investors. And, you know, that's just a testament to, not only are you a partner
12:10in helping us build infrastructure, but you should be a partner in sharing the prosperity.
12:14Next four years, let's build some Taiwanese hotels, Taiwanese industry, aquaculture, whatever
12:20is out there, transportation systems. But we're excited and looking forward to what
12:24can be possible. Or maybe some chip factories. I don't know.
12:29A greater US presence has proved controversial in the Philippines. President Marcos says
12:34he won't be giving more US access to his country's bases after a backlash from the public there.
12:41Do you worry that inviting the US military into Palau could place Palauans in the line
12:46of fire in the event of conflict?
12:49I think that we're already in the line of fire. That's why there's activity here. So
12:54because of that, we're already vulnerable. So what we're doing is just ensuring that
12:59we're not vulnerable and the deterrence is there. But I know there's an argument that
13:03somehow if everybody's out, then we're safe. No, I think if everybody is out, let's say
13:11the US is not here, then we're vulnerable. China will just walk right in. They walk right
13:15into those reefs in the Philippines. Why won't they take over some of our islands? There's
13:21no stopping. They're doing it in Bhutan. They're doing it in Nepal. They're doing it in India.
13:29Just pushing everywhere. And we need to say this is the line. Stay back. And we're grateful
13:37to our allies for their support.
13:39With that, thank you so much for joining the show today. It was really great to talk
13:43to you.
13:44Thank you for the opportunity. Thank you for allowing me to share about Palau.
13:46This has been Zoom In Zoom Out. For more stories from Taran Plus, check out the Taran Plus
13:50website or follow us on social media. I've been Rick Lowatt. Thank you and we will see
13:55you next time.
14:09I really want to go back to the Philippines.
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