Palau President Johnson Toribiong said the Uighurs have become "international vagabonds" who deserve his country's age-old tradition of hospitality. China said it opposes any country taking them.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a news conference the United States should "stop handing over terrorist suspects to any third country, so as to expatriate them to China at an early date." He did not say if China would take any action in response.

Palau, a former U.S. trust territory in the Pacific, is one of a handful of countries that does not recognize China, instead recognizing Taiwan.

The Obama administration faced fierce congressional opposition to allowing the Uighurs on U.S. soil as free men and sought alternatives abroad.