Palau is open to high-end investments from China and is also welcoming of Chinese tourists, President Tommy Remengesau Jr. stated last week.

Remengesau said he wants to maintain friendships with everybody, even with China.

“China is a key development partner in the world stage. Palau, for example, wishes to be friends with everybody,” he stated.

In earlier interviews, Remengesau said despite Palau’s diplomatic ties with Taiwan, the country does not look at the economy “as a political issue.”

“We extend invitation to quality investors, quality tourists. We’re very grateful that citizens of China have also taken the opportunity to visit Palau, to invest in Palau and we see many good visitors in Palau from China, having business partnerships with Palauan people. That’s all a good thing,” Remengesau said in an interview in February.

Remengesau also has stated that if it were up to him, Palau would recognize both China and Taiwan.

“I’ve said in many times and I’ll say it again, if it was our choice, we will recognize Taiwan and we will recognize Mainland China. We don’t have enemies, we are not here to choose who are our friends and who should not be our friend. This is a political decision for mainland China and Taiwan to pursue a one-China policy,” he stated.

Palau however is not severing its relationship with Taiwan because the nation has been a proven “friend and partner,” and have been with Palau through “thick and thin.”

Earlier this month, Australia’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and her delegation visited Palau as part of the North Pacific tour.

Australia has earlier vowed to “step-up” its engagement in the Pacific which is seen as a move to assert its influence amid the growing interest of China in the region.

Remengesau does not see anything wrong in engaging with China especially if it will bring high-end investments into the country.

The president said Palau couldn’t limit its market to only a few countries.

He however said Palau would ensure that foreign investments and tourists that respect the environment are welcome.

Tourism is the engine that drives Palau’s economy but it is also concerned that too much tourism could have environmental impacts.

Tourists from China have dominated Palau’s tourism arrivals since 2015. Hotels, businesses, restaurants and tour companies catering to Chinese tourists have also grown in Palau. (Bernadette H. Carreon)