Taiwan: Tien Chung-kwang, Deputy Foreign Minister of Taiwan, has left to visit diplomatic ally Tuvalu after the Pacific Island nation’s new government announced its ‘special’ association with Taipei.
Foreign Ministry official Eric Chen said that Chung-kwang is visiting as a special representative of President Tsai Ing-wen to congratulate and show backing for Tuvalu’s new government.
According to Chen, Tien will meet higher officials, including new Tuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Teo, to discuss bilateral association at celebrations for the new government before returning.
The Foreign Minister said in a statement that, “The visit demonstrates the solid ties between the two countries, as this year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Tuvalu.”
“In the future, Taiwan and Tuvalu will continue to work together to promote sustainability, peace, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region,” Chung-kwang added.
The visit comes after Tuvalu’s new government pledged to maintain ‘special’ ties with Taiwan, terminating speculation that the Pacific Island nation was preparing to shift diplomatic recognition to Beijing.
Tuvalu, with a population of 11,000, is one of only 12 countries that sustain formal diplomatic connections with Taipei rather than Beijing, including three in the Pacific.
Senior lawmaker Seve Paeniu suggested the idea during the election campaign that Tuvalu’s new government could re-examine relations with Taiwan.
That sparked heated conjecture about a forthcoming transformation in policy, prompting scrutiny of the election from the United States to China. Vice President Lai Ching-te, who was disliked by Beijing, won Taiwan’s presidential election. Shortly after that, neighbouring Nauru switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in January.
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