Tuvalu expects to review its diplomatic ties with Taiwan after its elections tomorrow, Tuvaluan Minister of Finance Seve Paeniu said, adding that voters in the tiny Pacific island nation wanted more financial support from the international community for climate change and development.
Tuvalu is one of three Pacific allies of Taiwan after Nauru last week cut ties to instead recognize Beijing.
A national election is to be held tomorrow in the nation of 11,200 people, where there are no political parties and voters select two lawmakers in each of eight electorates.
Photo: Reuters
Paeniu, as one of only two candidates for the Nukulaelae electorate, is guaranteed a seat in the new parliament.
Tuvalu’s ties with Taiwan, and a security and migration deal struck with Australia, have been raised as concerns by lawmakers and “need to be debated and reviewed in the new parliament,” he said.
“The Taiwan-China issue remains a debatable issue for any government, particularly following a general election. No doubt it will feature once again in the debates following the election and the new government will need to take a stance on it,” he said in a statement.
“It comes down to whichever partner country is able to respond to and support achievement of Tuvalu’s development priorities and aspirations,” he said.
In 2019, Tuvalu said it had rejected an offer by China to build artificial islands in return for switching ties.
In Taipei, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that several Tuvaluan officials and politicians had congratulated Taiwan on its presidential election on Jan. 13, “and reiterated their position on the continued firm defense of the friendship between the two countries.”
Tuvalu agreed to consult Canberra before making security arrangements with another nation, a broad definition covering port, telecommunications and cyber, as well as policing, in a deal inked in November last year that provides an Australian security guarantee and visa pathway for Tuvaluan citizens to migrate.
The deal was criticized as infringing sovereignty by several Tuvaluan lawmakers, who want it revised, although Paeniu said that it would go ahead if his government is returned.
Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong (黃英賢) on Tuesday told reporters that Canberra would not intervene in any decision by Tuvalu on diplomatic recognition of Taiwan or China.
Tuvalu’s islands stretch across 500,000km2 of ocean, with infrequent boat links to the outer islands.
Australia provided extra funding to Tuvalu last year for a harbor construction project financed by the Asian Development Bank to enable the contract to be awarded on quality rather than price alone.
An Australian construction company subsequently replaced a Chinese state-owned company involved in the construction, documents show.
Australia has also funded land reclamation in Tuvalu.
The role of Chinese infrastructure in boosting China’s influence in the Pacific was shown in Nauru’s decision to switch ties from Taiwan to Beijing, after China Harbor Engineering Co built a harbor project.
Tuvaluan Prime Minister Kausea Natano did not respond to a request for comment amid a caretaker period before the election.
After votes are counted, government boats collect the new lawmakers and bring them to the capital, Funafuti, a journey that can take up to 27 hours.
Coalitions are formed before a vote of lawmakers selects the prime minister.
Paeniu said that Tuvalu wants increased support from the international community for development and to address climate change.
Increased cost of living needs to be addressed by the next government and people want to see a big improvement in public healthcare standards, he added.
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