Overview:
Palauan senators are pushing back strongly against corruption allegations by the U.S. State Department against Senate President Hokkons Baules. During a recent session, lawmakers described the accusations as foreign interference and a challenge to Palau’s sovereignty, raising broader questions about the country’s relationship with Washington.
By: Eoghan Olkeriil Ngirudelsang
NGERULMUD, Palau — “We should not allow any nation to carelessly make unsubstantiated accusations against a Palauan leader,” Sen. Eldebechel said during a recent Senate session, as lawmakers rallied to defend Senate President Hokkons Baules against corruption allegations raised by the U.S. State Department.
Palauan senators last week sharply criticized the U.S. government after it accused Baules of “significant corruption on behalf of China-based actors,” calling the allegations an intrusion into Palau’s domestic affairs and a challenge to the country’s sovereignty.
While Baules responded publicly to the allegations last week, several of his colleagues used the Senate floor to condemn the accusations, describing them as “foreign meddling,” “a blatant disregard for Palau’s sovereignty,” and a “slanderous accusation without evidence.”
Sen. Eldebechel opened the criticism, saying senators were troubled that the allegations were made by a long-standing partner such as the United States.
“We are very concerned about such news because they are sourced from supposed respectful nations like the United States,” Eldebechel said. “They publish information about an alleged one-year investigation about a Palauan leader accusing him of serious allegations with no clear evidence and without proof.”
Eldebechel said Palau must defend the integrity of its institutions and its sovereignty.
“As a country we should not allow any institution, organization or even any nation to carelessly come up with unsubstantiated allegations or accusations with no basis and no factual information to support such allegations,” he said.
Senate Vice President Stevenson Kuartei echoed those concerns, saying the accusations undermined the office of the Senate president and risked interfering with Palau’s internal affairs.
“The United States should not intrude or meddle with Palau’s domestic affairs,” Kuartei said. “When they go out of their way to bully whoever is sitting in the Senate President’s seat, we should all rise to protect the integrity of that seat.”
Kuartei also referenced Palau’s political history and its relationship with the United States under the Compact of Free Association, emphasizing that the agreement did not diminish the country’s independence.
“The compact of free association did not erase our sovereignty,” he said. “This is not about news; this is about our survivability because there are people who died for this political system that we currently have with the United States.”
He added that the issue should not be viewed as a political dispute but as a matter of national self-determination.
“This is not a political game. Any foreign entities have no right to make such allegations without any proof,” Kuartei said. “We are not subservient to the United States. We fought tooth and nail to be a sovereign country. We should not give up our self-determination for some type of political interest.”
Senate Floor Leader Kerai Mariur broadened the discussion to Palau’s strategic relationship with Washington, questioning whether the partnership under the Compact sufficiently protects Palau’s interests.
“Palau is a shield of the United States,” Mariur said. “While the Compact agreement with the United States will take care of Palau’s security, it is obvious that they are only interested in the United States’ security and not ours.”
Mariur said Palau must continue working toward self-reliance as envisioned during the transition from the former U.S.-administered Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.
“We should not lose sight of our sovereignty,” he said. “By the end of this Compact Agreement, we should be able to stand on our own, as that was the mandate of the trust territories.”
He added that the allegations against Baules raised broader questions about respect for Palau’s independence.
“These recent allegations against Baules prove that the United States does not respect Palau’s sovereignty,” Mariur said.
Sen. Basilius also weighed in, emphasizing that Palau’s international partners typically respect the country’s legal processes.
“Palau’s diplomatic allies respect the due process of a sovereign nation,” Basilius said.
Some senators suggested the allegations may be connected to tensions between the Senate and the United States over Washington’s proposal to send deportees to Palau — a plan that Baules and several senators have publicly opposed.
Those concerns come as the Senate continues to seek clarification from the U.S. government regarding the corruption accusations.
The U.S. government has not publicly provided detailed evidence related to the allegations, and it has yet to respond to a letter sent by Kuartei requesting clarification.
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