destabilization

Palau is raising concerns about drugs brought into the country by Chinese
nationals.

President Surangel Whipps says, the country is awash in illicit drugs,
causing overcrowding in the country's only jail.

Nikkei Asia reports that the jail has a capacity of 65 prisoners but held 113
as of the end of last month.

The Chinese nationals imprisoned there account for over 11% of those
incarcerated in the country.

Six Chinese people were sentenced between July and October of last year for
trafficking, possessing, attempting to import illicit drugs.

Palau maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan instead of China, and Whipps
has been critical of Beijing in the past.

Although the president is not claiming state involvement in the drug issue,
he told reporters that what the Chinese nationals bring into the country is
"directed at the Palau market" so that they can "weaken our government and"
social structures.