Politics

Palau, Taiwan Leaders Reaffirm Ties Amid China Pressure

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By TaiwanPlus

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Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. thanked Taiwan for its decades-long support during a visit to Taipei for a hospital opening. Both leaders reaffirmed their ties amid allegations of Chinese pressure on Palau to sever diplomatic relations with Taiwan. The visit also marks 20 years of medical cooperation between the two countries.

Palau President Thanks Taiwan for Decades of Support

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REPORTER:  
Palau’s president is in Taiwan, thanking Taipei for its decades-long support for his country.

Surangel S. Whipps Jr. (PALAU PRESIDENT):  
You've touched countless lives  
and held our hand  
and our nation  
when we needed it most.  
We will never forget.

Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr. spoke during a visit to Taipei to attend the opening of a new hospital building on Sunday. His remarks follow a recent interview in which he pushed back against China’s alleged use of carrot-and-stick incentives. Those include promises of hotel construction and a million tourists, along with threats made to pressure the country into cutting ties with Taipei. Palau is one of Taiwan’s 12 remaining diplomatic allies, and Whipps asserted that Palau’s relations are for Palau to decide, not Beijing.

President Lai Ching-te reaffirmed the bilateral ties.

Lai Ching-te (TAIWAN PRESIDENT):  
China has used various means  
to expand its influence in Palau  
but President Surangel Whipps Jr.  
has remained steadfast in his support for Taiwan.

The visit to the hospital opening marks 20 years of medical cooperation between the two countries.  

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Palau President Thanks Taiwan for Medical Cooperation

==  
REPORTER:  
Palau’s president is in Taiwan, thanking Taipei for its decades-long support for his country.

Surangel S. Whipps Jr. (PALAU PRESIDENT):  
You've touched countless lives and held our hand  
and our nation when we needed it most.  
We will never forget.

Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr. delivered the speech Sunday during a visit to Taipei for the inauguration of a new hospital building.

His remarks followed a recent interview in which he pushed back against China’s alleged use of economic incentives, including promises of a million tourists and hotel construction, and threats to pressure Palau into cutting ties with Taiwan, asserting that Palau’s diplomatic relations are for Palau to decide, not Beijing.

President Lai Ching-te reaffirmed the bilateral ties.

Lai Ching-te (PRESIDENT, TAIWAN):  
China has used various means  
to expand its influence in Palau  
but President Surangel Whipps Jr.  
has remained steadfast in his support for Taiwan.

The two countries have maintained 20 years of medical cooperation.