This Wednesday, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te arrived in Tuvalu, a Pacific microstate, where he announced he wanted “expand cooperation” with one of its last diplomatic allies. Tuvalu marks the third stop on a tour by the Taiwanese president in the Pacific after the Marshall Islands. This is his first trip abroad since taking office in May.
Colorful shirt and flower garland around his neck, Lai Ching-te said he hoped Taiwan and Tuvalu could “expand their cooperation to even more areas, thus strengthening our diplomatic partnership”. Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands are among Taiwan's three Pacific allies among the last 12 countries to recognize Taipei around the world. Some former supporters have switched to Beijing's side, particularly after promises of aid and investment. Taiwan has a long history of providing development aid to its allies in the Pacific.
The president inaugurated this tour with a two-day stopover in Hawaii, US state, from where he spoke by telephone with former Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi about “Chinese military threats” towards Taiwan. Beijing, which opposes any official contact between Taipei and foreign countries, has “firmly” condemned Lai Ching-te's tour and ordered the United States to “stop meddling with Taiwan”. Lai Chig-te is expected in the evening on the island of Guam, an unincorporated territory of the United States, then conclude his tour in Palau, the third Pacific country recognizing Taipei.
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