Palau–Philippines relations

Palau-Philippines relations

Palau
Philippines

Palau–Philippines relations refers to the bilateral relations between Palau and the Philippines.

Background

Formal diplomatic relations between Palau and the Philippines were established on July 15, 1997.[1] The formalization of ties were done in Manila and was oversaw by Philippine Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon and Palau Minister of State Andres Uherbelau.[2]

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[3] in Koror which opened in 1998.[4] 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.[5]

The Philippine embassy in Koror closed on July 31, 2012.[6] The Philippines has since maintained relations with Palau along with Micronesia and the Marshall Islands through the DFA's Office of Asian and Pacific Affairs[7] and maintains an active honorary consulate in Koror.[8]

Cultural relations

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 of Palau citizens goes to the Philippines to study in colleges and universities for higher education.[3]

People-to-people relations dates back to about 2000 B.C. with the first humans in Palau believed to originate from the Philippine archipelago. A pygmy population was reported in Palau but disappeared in about 1100 A.D.[9]

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.[3] The two countries share a maritime border with Palau situated southeast of the Philippines.[10]

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.[11] 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.[12][13] 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.[14]

ASEAN

The Philippines has expressed its intent to aid Palau in becoming an 'observer state' in ASEAN. Possible memberships of Palau, Papua New Guinea, and Timor-Leste in ASEAN are supported by the Philippines. So far, only Timor-Leste and Papua New Guinea have expressed their intention for ASEAN membership, with Timor-Leste's application being filed in 2011.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "18th Anniversary of Palau-Philippines Diplomatic Relations". Palau Embassy in the Philippines. 22 July 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  2. ↑ "Palau and Philippines Establish Diplomatic Relations". Pacific Islands Reports. 17 July 1997. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 "Palau president appeals to President Noynoy Aquino to keep embassy". Sun.Star. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ Santos, Tina (25 January 2012). "10 PH embassies, consulates to be closed; Palau appeals". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  6. ↑ "DFA untertakes official mission to Palau". Official Gazette of the Philippines. 4 March 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  7. ↑ Lee-Brago, Pia (28 March 2013). "Pinoys called 'builders of Marshall Islands'". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  8. ↑ https://www.embassypages.com/missions/embassy10102/
  9. ↑ "Palau". Histclo.com. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
  10. ↑ Tan, Kimberly Jane (22 June 2008). "RP talks with Palau, Indonesia over maritime issues". GMA News. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  11. ↑ "Santa Cruz group helps Palau save reef". SF Gate. Hearst Communications. Bloomberg. 2 August 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  12. ↑ "RP-Palau fisheries deal sought". Over Seas - The Online Magazine for Sustainable Seas. 2 (February, 1999). Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  13. ↑ Palau Country Review. CountryWatch Incorporated. 2013. p. 48.
  14. ↑ Go, Marianne (25 October 2010). "Palau studying new fishing scheme for RP vessels". Nagoya: The Philippine Star. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
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