Palau President Says CCP Leveraging Tourism to Pressure State on China Stance

Palau President Says CCP Leveraging Tourism to Pressure State on China Stance
Palau’s president Surangel Whipps Jr. speaks during the annual gathering in New York City for the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on September 21, 2021. Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Catherine Yang
Updated:
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Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. said late on Aug. 15 that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has made good on its threat to leverage tourism to the Micronesian island, after he spoke openly about a Chinese cyberattack and refused to cut relations with Taiwan.

The CCP has exerted pressure on other Pacific island nations in recent years. In 2022, Beijing rolled out a plan to partner with 10 countries in a sweeping security and economic deal. However, the nations rejected the deal.