TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) stated last Sunday (Jan. 21) that it has been closely cooperating with Tuvalu in various fields and will continue to strengthen such cooperation for mutual prosperity.
MOFA's remarks came after rumors that Tuvalu might establish diplomatic ties with China after its general election on Friday.
Bikenibeu Paeniu, Tuvalu's ambassador to Taiwan, told the Weekend Australian last Friday that, similar to Nauru, Tuvalu might seek diplomatic recognition from Beijing after its Jan. 26 general election.
Taiwan's foreign ministry noted that numerous high-ranking officials from Tuvalu, including the Speaker of the Parliament and politicians from all sectors, had congratulated Taiwan's elected president and vice president after its democratic election, and reiterated their commitment to preserving the friendship between the two countries.
Against the backdrop of potential diplomatic severance, some experts suggested that Paeniu's public hint at a diplomatic shift was rather "abrupt."
They believe these comments require further verification and cannot rule out the possibility that Tuvalu is using this as leverage to solicit support from Australia.