Taiwan’s ambassador to Tuvalu said Monday that he was assured by the country’s new prime minister that ties were “rock solid, durable and everlasting,” refuting rumors the Pacific island nation could flip alliances to Beijing.
“I was invited to attend a lunch with all the members of parliament and the newly elected prime ministers. I had conversations with all of them and had assurances from all of them,” ambassador Andrew Lin said after a ceremony that named Feleti Teo as the new prime minister.
Teo was formally selected by lawmakers as premier on Monday, nearly a month after elections in which the issue of relations with Taiwan came to the fore.
During the campaign, member of parliament and finance minster Seve Paeniu floated the idea of Tuvalu’s new government reviewing its Taiwan ties.
Tuvalu is one of just 12 states that still formally recognize Taiwan.
But Lin said he had been assured by the new government that “the relationship between Taiwan and Tuvalu is firm, rock solid, durable and everlasting.”
“Before the election, a lot of rumors spread, a kind of disinformation,” Taiwan’s ambassador said.
“Maybe China was behind the scenes saying that after the election Tuvalu will follow suit with Nauru for a switch.”
Neighboring Nauru recently severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favor of China, feeding rumors Tuvalu could follow.
Lin described his relationship with Teo as being “very good friends and close to each other.”