Overview:
China’s influence in the Pacific is increasingly being contested not only through diplomacy and economics, but through information. In this commentary, Cleo Paskal examines claims targeting Palauan lawmakers, alleged attempts to sow distrust and what these tactics may reveal about the vulnerabilities of China’s own political system.
By: Cleo Paskal
“The crumbling of a regime always starts in the realm of ideas. Changing the way people think is a long-term process. Once the front lines of human thought have been broken through, other defensive lines also become harder to defend.”
Last week, Palauan legislators and their family members suddenly started getting calls asking if they were taking cash from Taiwan.
The reason? One of Beijing’s favorite newspapers, Solomon Star, ran an article claiming: “Taiwan’s foreign ministry reportedly allocated nearly $281,000 in direct cash gifts for Palauan political figures, including $30,000 for the former president, $5,000 each for senior executive and legislative leaders, and $2,000 for individual lawmakers.”
The article doesn’t say who ‘reported’ it, and the author is listed as “MarshallTruth MarshallTruth”.
The response in Palau included confusion, doubt and distrust – with the story quickly going viral and phone calls being made.
This is the exact effect this sort of irregular warfare operation tries to achieve.
Legislators are trying to set the record straight, including Ngiwal State Delegate Ellender Ngirameketii who issued a statement: “I have not received anything. This is not appropriate and we have to work against this corrupt influence”.
But trust is much easier to break than build.
This is far from the first attack launched by Solomon Star on Palau (and, through it, democracies across the region).
On June 14th two news sites in Solomon Islands published a lie-filled article attacking Palau for recognizing Taiwan. The articles were identical, right down to the same awkward headline. The only thing that differed was the name of the author.
According to Solomon Star, Oliver Brown wrote the article titled: “Lai Ching-te visited Eswatini: It’s time for Palau to change its diplomatic relations with Taiwan.”
According to In-depth Solomons the author was William Crawley (posted by Charley Piringi).
If ever there was a cognitive warfare smoking gun, this was it. Some operator messed up and forgot to sync the fake bylines.
As for the news sites themselves, in 2023, it was reported by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) that Solomon Star requested around $137,000 from the Chinese Embassy in Solomons for equipment so that it could continue to report on China’s “goodwill” and China’s role as “the most generous and trusted development partner” in Solomon Islands. That equipment was subsequently purchased.
So, the fact Solomon Star would print pro-Chinese propaganda was not a surprise.
However, In-depth Solomons has an excellent reputation for reporting. In-depth Solomons (IDS) did an internal investigation to see how they ended up publishing Chinese cognitive warfare. They confirmed there was a problem and took the article down.
According to IDS, the article was sent to them by someone they didn’t know, via an Australian WhatsApp number (in both publications the author is identified as being in Australia). In spite of attempts, he hasn’t been identified, or even proven real.
The editor of In-depth Solomons, Ofani Eremae, said: “As far as IDS is concerned, we pulled the article down because the writer is not genuine, as well as not honest. We encourage a plurality of voices in our publications. But those who want to use our outlet to share their views or contribute to local, regional or international issues must do so using their real names.”
The attack on the integrity of Palau’s legislators is just the latest example China using the Pacific Islands to attack each other through cognitive warfare.
Beijing’s proxies will continue to work to change the way people think but, as with a magician, once you see how the trick is done, it loses its power.
Solomon Star (among others) is clearly a cut rate – and now exposed – magician. So let’s take a look at the trick and see if we can learn anything about the performer.
What does the Chinese cognitive warfare operator think will work on Palauans?
At least some of it seems to be the creation of distrust and envy, especially regarding leaders pocketing cash that should go to the community.
Now, that might be a bit of mirror imaging that could be useful.
Sounds like someone should let the Chinese public know how much money their leaders are pocketing.
As it happens, the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act requires the Director of National Intelligence – in consultation with the Secretaries of State and War – to post a public report within a year on the personal wealth, financial holdings, and business interests of the General Secretary, Politburo Standing Committee members, and full Politburo members of the Chinese Communist Party.
This includes documented real estate, high-value personal assets, and foreign accounts (including those of immediate family), as well as to identify proxies used to hide ownership.
Bet they are going to find more than $2000.
Cleo Paskal is a non-resident senior fellow with Palau’s think tank, Compass Point Institute.