GPS News
WATER WORLD
New Tuvalu govt vows to stick with Taiwan, questions Australia pact
New Tuvalu govt vows to stick with Taiwan, questions Australia pact
by AFP Staff Writers
Funafuti, Tuvalu (AFP) Feb 28, 2024

Tuvalu's new government on Wednesday 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 Wednesday, 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".

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".

- Climate refuge pact -

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.

Two of the country's nine coral islands have already largely disappeared under the waves, and climate scientists fear the entire archipelago will be uninhabitable within the next 80 years.

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, raising concerns on the island that Tuvalu was handing over its sovereignty.

In a statement, the island's new government said it supported the "broad principles and objectives" of the treaty.

But it criticised it what it deemed a lack of transparency or consultation with the people of Tuvalu on such an "important and groundbreaking initiative".

Tuvalu's government said it planned to work with Australia towards a "workable arrangement" that would advance the treaty's goals, "in particular safeguarding the integrity of the sovereignty of Tuvalu."

The agreement is seen as a significant strategic win for Australia as it fends off China's attempts to expand its security reach in the Pacific region.

A spokesperson for Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs said Canberra "stands ready to engage with Prime Minister Teo and his government on the priorities they have outlined."

The pact will have to be ratified by each country before coming into effect.

Related Links
Water News - Science, Technology and Politics

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
WATER WORLD
Tuvalu names new PM, Taiwan says ties 'everlasting'
Funafuti, Tuvalu (AFP) Feb 26, 2024
Taiwan said it received assurances from Tuvalu's new prime minister Monday that ties were "everlasting", scotching rumours that the Pacific island nation was poised to flip alliances to Beijing. Former attorney general Feleti Teo was named premier in a ceremony on Monday, a month after an election that put the Pacific Island nation's recognition of Taiwan in question. Tuvalu, with a population of just 11,000 is one of just 12 states that still have formal diplomatic relations with Taipei rather ... read more

WATER WORLD
Costa Rica coffee farmers innovate as rainfall plummets

EU parliament backs contested biodiversity bill

2 million animals dead as extreme winter weather hits Mongolia

New farmer show of force as EU ministers vow to target red tape

WATER WORLD
Riding high on AI, Nvidia is no bubble, says Wall Street

Umbrella for atoms: The first protective layer for 2D quantum materials

AI-enabled atomic robotic probe to advance quantum material manufacturing

New insights into spin-orbit interaction in boron-doped diamonds

WATER WORLD
AFRL's XQ-67A makes first successful flight

No need for climate 'flight shame', Swedish govt says

Greek PM hails US approval of F-35 fighter jet sale

First Boeing 737 MAX delivered to China since 2019 lands in Guangzhou

WATER WORLD
Nissan plans self-driving taxi service in Japan

US probes security risks posed by Chinese tech in cars

Italy says it wants Chinese carmakers but only under conditions

Nissan plans self-driving taxi service in Japan

WATER WORLD
Hong Kong scraps property taxes; as Country Garden faces winding-up petition

Asian shares muted ahead of Fed comments

Asian markets rise ahead of US inflation data

Hong Kong scraps property taxes to revive sluggish market

WATER WORLD
Major firms still failing to tackle deforestation: report

In wake of powerful cyclone, remarkable recovery of Pacific island's forests

Activists occupy German forest to block Tesla expansion

Nearly 3,000 fires in Brazilian Amazon in February, new record

WATER WORLD
Study Offers Improved Look at Earth's Ionosphere

Ubotica's CogniSAT-6 Mission to Deliver Real-Time Earth Intelligence from Space

Stitch3D is powering a new wave of 3D data collaboration

NUVIEW Acquires AI Firm Astraea to transforming geospatial intelligence

WATER WORLD
Researchers unveil novel technique for creating atomically thin nanoscrolls

MIT.nano equipment to accelerate innovation in "tough tech" sectors

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.