According to a Central News Agency report dated Thursday, September 3, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) attended a “Taiwan Night” event in Palau on Tuesday. The Taiwan International Youth Ambassador Association, which also took part in the event, claimed on social media that unidentified individuals with Chinese accents were seen around the event venue taking photos and documenting attendees.

Lin led a delegation to Palau from August 27 to September 3 to participate in events and activities on the sidelines of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders Meeting. He attended a “Taiwan Night” event jointly hosted by Taiwan and Palau on September 1.

The Taiwan International Youth Ambassadors Association claimed on social media that its members noticed unidentified individuals speaking with Chinese accents loitering around the venue. The individuals continuously took photographs and documented attendees. The association said that conduct like threatening consequences of Taiwan’s participation ahead of the PIF meeting, issuing a travel advisory to Palau, and documenting event attendees reflect exactly what Foreign Minister Lin described as the weaponization of people-to-people exchanges. It said this was the first time China’s threats had manifested so blatantly and directly.

The association said that the underlying message is simple: getting too close to Taiwan means trouble. It added that all it can do to counteract this is keep reaching out and making friends.