Palau–Philippines relations

Palau–Philippines relations refers to the bilateral relations between Palau and the Philippines. The Philippines and Palau have shared centuries of history under the same Spanish colony, and after Philippine independence, Palaos (Palau) sent a delegation to the Malolos Congress.

Palau-Philippines relations
Map indicating locations of Palau and Philippines

Palau
Philippines

History

Both countries has been part of the Spanish Empire and was governed as a colony under the Spanish East Indies. Palau was part of the Spanish Empire from 1574 to 1899. When the Philippine revolutionary Malolos Congress was convened, a delegation to Palaos (Palau) was present. A stable independent Philippine state failed to realize, and Palau was sold by Spain to the German Empire along with the Caroline Islands. The Japanese Empire annexed Palau in World War I from Germany administering it until World War II when the United States captured the islands. Palau was then incorporated into the United Nations-backed Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands in 1947.[1][2]

In 1979, four constituents of the Trust Territory decided to form the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau opted to become its own independent state. The Philippines, along with Japan, and Republic of China (Taiwan) were the strong supporters of Palau independence.[2]

In the recent era, formal diplomatic relations between Palau and the Philippines were established on July 15, 1997.[3] The formalization of ties were done in Manila and was oversaw by Philippine Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon and Palau Minister of State Andres Uherbelau.[4]

Diplomatic missions
Palau President Thomas Remengesau Jr. meets with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in Davao City on February 15, 2018.

Palau currently has an embassy in Manila as of 2012 while the Philippines previously had an embassy[5] in Koror which opened in 1998.[6] The closure of the embassy in Palau along with 9 other diplomatic missions of the Philippines by the end of July 2012 was announced on January 25, 2012. Budgetary constraints was the cited reason.

Palau President Johnson Toribiong requested President Benigno Aquino III to reconsider the government's plan to close the embassy in Palau. According to Toribiong the embassy is essential in the delimitation talks on the two countries' maritime border and that the embassy serves about 5,000 Filipino workers, which compose of 60 percent of Palau's foreign work force and 20 percent of the country's total population. The closure of the Philippine embassy in Melekeok was expected to affect Filipinos in neighboring countries such as Micronesia and the Marshall Islands.[7]

The Philippine embassy in Koror closed on July 31, 2012.[8] Since then it has maintained relations with Palau along with Micronesia and the Marshall Islands through the DFA's Office of Asian and Pacific Affairs.[9] Consular affairs fall under the auspices of the Philippine Consulate General in Hagåtña, Guam, and an honorary consulate in Koror.[10]

Cultural relations
Further information: Filipinos in Palau

There are 5,000 Filipino workers in Palau. 60 percent of all foreign workers from Palau came from the Philippines and they compose of 20 percent of Palau's total population. Palau's Medical Referral Program which was in force for almost 20 years, sends 100–150 patients annually to the Philippines for medical treatment. Many Palau citizens go to the Philippines to study in colleges and universities for higher education.[5]

A pygmy population was reported in Palau but disappeared in about 1100 A.D.[11]

Disputes

Maritime borders

The exact boundaries of Palau and the Philippines is remained to be defined by delimitation talks. A final agreement has not been made regarding the issue.[5] The two countries share a maritime border with Palau situated southeast of the Philippines.[12] In September 2021, Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. met with Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. with the former pledging to resolve the maritime dispute between two countries.[13]

Filipinos fishing in Palau's EEZ

Filipinos fishing within Palau's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) remains an irritant to the relations of both countries. Palau's waters, especially near its southern reefs is currently threatened by over-fishing from boats from China, Indonesia, the Philippines and other countries.[14] Diplomatic relations between Palau and the Philippines reached its lowest point when Palau President Kuniwo Nakamura threatened to sever ties with the Philippines due to repeated violations of Palau's EEZ by Filipino fishing vessels in January 1999.[15][16] However, in the recent years, Palau prefers to work on a fishing agreement with the Philippines rather than to file diplomatic protest against its neighbor. No fishing agreements have been established until now[17]

See also

References
  1. "Greater Philippines: Captaincy-general of the Philippines". Presidential Museum and Library. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  2. Limos, Mario Alvaro (April 13, 2021). "Palau Was Once a Part of the Philippines". Esquire. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  3. "18th Anniversary of Palau-Philippines Diplomatic Relations". Palau Embassy in the Philippines. July 22, 2015. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
  4. "Palau and Philippines Establish Diplomatic Relations". Pacific Islands Reports. July 17, 1997. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
  5. "Palau president appeals to President Noynoy Aquino to keep embassy". Sun.Star. Archived from the original on February 3, 2016. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  6. Alegado, Dean; Finin, Gerard (Fall 2000). "Exporting People: The Philippines and Contract Labor in Palau". The Contemporary Pacific. University of Hawai'i Press. 12 (2): 362. doi:10.1353/cp.2000.0039. hdl:10125/13542. S2CID 38971201.
  7. Santos, Tina (January 25, 2012). "10 PH embassies, consulates to be closed; Palau appeals". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  8. "DFA untertakes official mission to Palau". Official Gazette of the Philippines. March 4, 2013. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
  9. Lee-Brago, Pia (March 28, 2013). "Pinoys called 'builders of Marshall Islands'". The Philippine Star. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  10. "Philippine Honorary Consulate in Koror, Palau". www.embassypages.com. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  11. "Palau". Histclo.com. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  12. Tan, Kimberly Jane (June 22, 2008). "RP talks with Palau, Indonesia over maritime issues". GMA News. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  13. Lee-Brago, Pia (September 24, 2021). "Philippines vows to resolve maritime dispute with Palau". The Philippine Star. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  14. "Santa Cruz group helps Palau save reef". SF Gate. Hearst Communications. Bloomberg. August 2, 2012. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  15. "RP-Palau fisheries deal sought". Over Seas - the Online Magazine for Sustainable Seas. 2 (February, 1999). Retrieved November 3, 2015.
  16. Palau Country Review. CountryWatch Incorporated. 2013. p. 48.
  17. Go, Marianne (October 25, 2010). "Palau studying new fishing scheme for RP vessels". Nagoya: The Philippine Star. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
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