Outgoing President Accuses China of Bribery and Espionage
The President of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), David Panuelo, has accused China of attempting to take control of Micronesia’s national underwater cables and telecommunication infrastructure through “rampant” bribery and espionage, according to a letter he wrote last week. The letter, available to read here, highlights China’s attempts to take control of more than just the islands’ cables. Panuelo claims that China’s aims include taking possession of Micronesia’s ocean resources and using them to conduct deep-sea mining.
The outgoing President has listed a range of bribes that officials of Micronesia allegedly accepted from Chinese officials. Gifts included envelopes of money, trips on private planes and smartphones that Panuelo speculates could contain spy software. He claims that Chinese officials also attempted to convince Micronesian officials to sign memorandums of understanding, which would grant China control over the ports of the FSM and the underwater cables connecting Micronesia with the world.
Panuelo is not the first person to accuse China of trying to interfere with Micronesia’s infrastructure. Djibouti, Zambia, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia and Uganda have been accused of similar attempts to persuade countries to sign memorandums of understanding.
In his letter, Panuelo reveals that he is due to leave his post on May 11, which has led some to speculate that China is simply waiting for his successor to be inaugurated before continuing their campaign in Micronesia.
The letter was met with an official response from the Chinese Foreign Ministry. The representative, Mao Nin, stated that China will not tolerate any official interaction between Taiwan and countries with ties with China. However, he also stated that China is willing to work with FSM to strengthen their friendship and cooperation.
Micronesian officials have yet to respond to the accusations.