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Lawrence Chung

Taiwan has pledged to secure ties with Tuvalu following the South Pacific island state’s decision not to switch recognition to Beijing.
Tuvalu is one of Taiwan’s dozen remaining allies, and a leadership contender in last month’s general election had said the small state should consider making the switch.
But after being sworn in on Wednesday, Prime Minister Feleti Teo and his seven cabinet ministers, who won office, reaffirmed the country’s ties with Taiwan in a statement of priorities.
“The new government wishes to reaffirm its commitment to the long-term and lasting special relationship between Tuvalu and the Republic of China, Taiwan,” the government said.
“[Tuvalu] intends to reassess options that would strengthen and lift it to a more durable, lasting, and mutually beneficial relationship.”
In response, Taiwan’s foreign ministry thanked the Teo government for its continued support of Taipei and pledged to further cement ties with the Pacific Island nation.
It said the two sides had maintained vibrant ties for 45 years and cooperated in multiple areas based on universal values such as democracy, freedom, and the rule of law.
“We will seek to deepen our ties with Tuvalu in the years to come,” ministry spokesman Jeff Liu said.


The ministry issued similar statements before and after Tuvalu’s election on January 26.
“We will continue to collaborate closely with Tuvalu to create prosperity and sustainable peace in the Indo-Pacific region for the well-being of both peoples,” it said.
The election was closely watched by Taiwan, mainland China, the United States, and Australia, amid a geopolitical tussle for influence in the South Pacific.
In Beijing on Monday, mainland foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning urged Tuvalu to abandon Taipei.
“We call on a handful of countries that still keep the so-called relationship with the Taiwan region to stand on the right side of history and make the right decision that truly serves their long-term interest,” she said.
Tuvalu, with a population of about 11,200, is one of Taiwan’s three remaining allies in the Pacific. Neighbouring Nauru switched recognition from Taipei to Beijing last month.
The commitment from Tuvalu’s new government allayed concerns that Tuvalu might switch ties to Beijing following the defeat of former prime minister Kausea Natano who strongly supported Taiwan.
A proposal by another leadership contender, Seve Paeniu, to review the country’s formal relations with Taiwan had also raised worries about a possible switch.
Paeniu, a former Tuvaluan minister of finance who secured a seat in the election, had told Reuters Tuvalu’s ties with Taiwan “need to be debated and reviewed in the new parliament”.
He said the Tuvaluan electorate wanted more financial support from the international community to help the island nation address climate change and other issues.


Beijing – which views Taiwan as part of its territory and has not renounced the use of force to bring it under its control – has intensified military operations around Taiwan and poached Taipei’s allies since Tsai Ing-wen, of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party, was elected president in 2016 and refused to accept the one-China principle.
Tsai, who lost 10 allies during her tenure, will step down on May 20 at the end of her eight-year presidency to make way for the DPP’s William Lai Ching-te, who was elected president on January 14.
Beijing considers Lai an “obstinate separatist” whose leadership would bring war to Taiwan.
On January 15 – the day after Lai’s victory – Nauru declared it was severing ties with Taiwan, switching to Beijing which promised huge development funds for the Pacific Island nation.
The switch prompted criticism from the United States which and its allies have tried hard to contain Beijing’s growing influence within the Pacific island nations.
Most countries, including the United States – Taiwan’s informal ally and largest arms supplier – do not recognise the island as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any forcible change in the status quo.


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Taiwan

Taiwan thanks Tuvalu’s new government for retaining diplomatic ties

Tuvalu’s new government, led by Prime Minister Feleti Teo (front centre) has reaffirmed its diplomatic ties with Taipei. Photo: AFP

Tuvalu’s Taiwan ties in the balance as Pacific nation gets new prime minister

Funafuti, capital island of Tuvalu, is seen from a plane. The Pacific nation is one of just 12 states that still formally recognise Taiwan. Photo: AP 

Men carry ballot boxes in preparation for Tuvalu’s general elections in January. The election result was delayed by several weeks due to bad weather. Photo: Tuvalu Election Office/Handout via Reuters

‘No role’ for China in policing Pacific islands, Australian minister says

Christmas Island, Kiribati. Photo: Shutterstock

Australia’s Pacific Minister Pat Conroy (left), seen with Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape, says that China has ‘no role’ in policing the Pacific islands. Photo: EPA-EFE

As China’s Pacific influence grows, Japan eyes deeper ties with island nations amid their domestic woes

Protesters on the streets of Fiji’s capital city Suva rally against Japan’s release of wastewater from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean in August last year. Photo: AFP

A ministerial meeting among Japan and Pacific nations is held in the Fijian capital Suva on February 12. Photo: Kyodo

People in Seoul, South Korea, protest against Japan’s planned discharge of radioactive waste water. Photo: Xinhua

Tanks containing radioactive water at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Okuma. Photo: EPA-EFE

Taiwan: mainland China sends coastguard ships from contested Diaoyu Islands to patrol near Quemoy

China’s coastguard says it conducted law enforcement patrols near Kinmen, where two mainland fishermen died after being chased by the Taiwanese coastguard.  Photo: Weibo/中国海警

News

China

Politics

The small South Pacific state says it will uphold its relationship with Taipei and look at options to make it more durable
A leadership contender in Tuvalu’s general election last month had said the nation should consider making the switch


The small South Pacific state says it will uphold its relationship with Taipei and look at options to make it more durable.


Pacific nations

Nauru

Tuvalu

Taiwan thanks Tuvalu’s new government for retaining diplomatic ties

The small South Pacific state says it will uphold its relationship with Taipei and look at options to make it more durable A leadership contender in Tuvalu’s general election last month had said the nation should consider making the switch

The small South Pacific state says it will uphold its relationship with Taipei and look at options to make it more durable

A leadership contender in Tuvalu’s general election last month had said the nation should consider making the switch