US bars Palauan Senate president over China linksReuters, WASHINGTONThe US on Tuesday barred Palauan Senate President Hokkons Baules and his family from entering the US, accusing him of corruption linked to China, as Washington pushes back on Beijing’s effort to boost its influence in the Pacific. China, keen to make inroads in the region, has been wooing the financially strapped Pacific economies with development and economic opportunities. Baules, who pleaded guilty to heroin trafficking in 1989, has been one of the island’s most vociferous advocates for China. Under his leadership, the senate has passed resolutions criticizing US military activity in Palau, while he has personally advocated for expanded ties with China. Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands is home to a critical testing base for US missile defenses.

Source: Taipei Times February 11, 2026 17:12 UTC