Overview
- The State Department on Feb. 10 publicly designated Palau Senate President Hokkons Baules and former Marshall Islands mayor Anderson Jibas for involvement in significant corruption under Section 7031(c).
- The designations render both men and their immediate family members generally ineligible for entry into the United States.
- U.S. officials allege Baules accepted bribes to provide advocacy and support for government, business, and criminal interests from China, harming U.S. interests in Palau.
- Jibas is accused of orchestrating theft and misuse of U.S.-provided Bikini Resettlement Trust funds, which the State Department says depleted resources and worsened jobs, food security, migration, and electricity access for the Kili/Bikini/Ejit community.
- The actions come as Palau and the Marshall Islands, both COFA partners that recognize Taiwan, face intensified U.S.–China competition, with reporting noting Baules' past heroin conviction and pro-China advocacy; no responses from the named individuals or their governments were reported.