US and Taiwan accuse China of using travel advisory to undermine Palau

A Chinese travel warning about Palau has become a diplomatic dispute ahead of the Pacific Islands Forum leaders summit in Koror, with the United States and Taiwan accusing Beijing of trying to pressure the Pacific island nation.

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to exercise caution when traveling to Palau

The notice, posted on China’s Consular Service website on August 19, urged Chinese citizens “to exercise caution when traveling to Palau.” It referred to theft and robbery cases involving tourists and said victims had suffered significant losses.

The US Embassy in Koror rejected the warning’s political effect and called the notice an attack. “We call on Beijing to cease all its coercive activities against Palau,” the embassy said. It also pointed to the US travel advisory, which remains at Level 1, advising travelers to exercise normal precautions because Palau is considered generally safe for US visitors.

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We call on Beijing to cease all its coercive activities against Palau

Palau’s president’s office shared the US statement but did not directly dispute China’s account of crime. Instead, it said: “Palau remains a safe, peaceful, and welcoming destination for visitors from around the world.” Taiwan’s embassy in Palau described the Chinese notice as an “attempt to politicise and weaponise tourism,” saying such actions showed Beijing was using economic coercion to expand its political influence.

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Palau remains a safe, peaceful, and welcoming destination for visitors from around the world

China and Taiwan are both attending the PIF leaders meeting as dialogue and development partners. Palau, the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu are the only PIF member states that maintain diplomatic recognition of Taiwan.

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attempt to politicise and weaponise tourism