Palau’s re-elected President Surangel Whipps said on Tuesday he may ask the United States for a Patriot missile defence system, citing a recent Chinese missile test as a “direct threat” to the Pacific island nation.
Under the Compact of Free Association, an agreement allowing U.S funding and military access to Palau, Whipps, said the U.S is responsible for defending his country of around 18,000 people.
“We have also the power to request additional [defence support] if we feel there’s a threat,” Whipps said, hours before winning an election that gave him another four years in office. In September, China test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile that Whipps said intruded into Palau’s airspace.
Whipps believes he and U.S president-elect Donald Trump are “very much in agreement” regarding security. He noted the U.S will install defence radars in Palau’s Angaur and Ngaraard states, and expand a seaport in Koror.
Along with 11 other allies, Whipps said Palau should maintain diplomatic ties with Taiwan “because it’s built on mutual respect, rule of law and really, democracy and freedom … which is something we should all promote”.
Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary. While many nations, including the U.S, do not officially acknowledge Taiwan as an independent state, they oppose any use of force to alter the existing status quo. Whipps accused China of “weaponising tourism” when it issued a travel warning for Palau in June that prevented Chinese travellers from visiting his country.