Govt vows to stick with Taiwan, questions Aussie pact
SYDNEY: Tuvalu’s new government yesterday pledged to keep up its “special” relationship with Taiwan, ending speculation that the Pacific island nation was poised to switch diplomatic recognition to Beijing.
In a statement of priorities released as his government was sworn in yesterday, Prime Minister Feleti Teo reaffirmed the “long-term and lasting special relationship” with Taiwan.
Tuvalu, with a population of 11,000, is one of just 12 states that still have formal diplomatic relations with Taipei rather than Beijing.
During the election campaign, a senior lawmaker floated the idea that Tuvalu’s new government could review its Taiwan ties. That set off frenzied speculation about a looming shift in policy, causing the election to be closely watched from the United States to China.
Andrew Lin, Taiwan’s ambassador to Tuvalu, tried to end that speculation on Monday, telling AFP he had received assurances from the new government “that the relationship between Taiwan and Tuvalu is firm, rock solid, durable and everlasting”.
Mr Teo’s government said however that it did want to “reassess options” to “strengthen and lift” relations with Taiwan — to establish a “more durable, lasting, and mutually beneficial relationship”.
And there was also a vow to revisit a recent landmark pact with Canberra that offered Tuvalu citizens a climate refuge in Australia.
Tuvalu said it wanted to work with Australia to create a “workable arrangement” that would safeguard its sovereignty.
Under the treaty inked between the two countries in November, Tuvalu’s citizens would have the right to live in Australia if their homeland is lost beneath the Pacific.
The pact commits Australia to defending Tuvalu in the face of natural disasters, health pandemics and “military aggression”.
But it also offers Australia a say in any defence pacts Tuvalu signs with other countries.