Lawmakers in Tuvalu have selected Feleti Teo as the Pacific island nation’s new prime minister, weeks after an election that put ties with Taiwan in focus.
According to government secretary Tufoua Panapa, former attorney general Teo has gained the backing of newly elected lawmakers. This was disclosed to Agence France-Presse on Monday.
There has been speculation that Tuvalu, one of the 12 remaining states that officially acknowledge Taiwan, may consider forming ties with Beijing.
Following the announcement on Monday, Andrew Lin, the ambassador of Taiwan to Tuvalu, informed AFP that he had received guarantees from the newly elected prime minister that the relationship between the two countries is stable, long-lasting, and enduring.
Lin stated that he was invited to join a lunch gathering with the Members of Parliament and the recently chosen Prime Minister. He engaged in discussions with each of them and received guarantees from all. Furthermore, Lin mentioned that he has a strong friendship with Teo.
Teo was appointed as prime minister following the defeat of his predecessor Kausea Natano, who had supported maintaining close ties with Taipei, in the recent general elections.
Nauru recently ended its diplomatic relationship with Taiwan and has instead aligned itself with China, sparking speculation that Tuvalu may also do the same.
In 2019, Beijing successfully convinced the Solomon Islands and Kiribati to change their recognition from Taiwan to China, leading to Taiwan losing some of its Pacific allies.
Before the election, Seve Paeniu, the finance minister of Natano, suggested the possibility of Tuvalu reassessing its relationship with Taiwan.
Teo takes office as prime minister four weeks after the general elections. According to lawmaker Simon Kofe, he is the first unopposed nominee from Tuvalu to hold this position. Kofe announced on social media that Teo and his cabinet ministers will be sworn in later this week.
The bad weather caused a delay in the election, as it prevented several MPs from reaching the capital due to being stranded on outer islands.
According to AFP, Jess Marinaccio, a Pacific Studies assistant professor at California State University, stated that it is currently too soon to determine if Teo, who previously held a high-ranking position in regional fisheries, will continue to have connections with Taiwan.
Marinaccio stated that due to his absence from government for an extended period, it is unlikely that anyone has knowledge of the matter.
The attorney general was his previous role before he began working on a global scale.
He has held positions where he had to navigate relations with both pro-Taiwan and anti-Taiwan countries, requiring him to maintain a neutral stance.
“He had no stance on the matter, leaving us uncertain of his inclinations.”
Marinaccio stated that international relations would be a top priority for Teo’s administration.
“It will certainly be a topic of conversation. They also have to select high commissioners and ambassadors, so Taiwan will be included,” she stated.
“Addressing this issue, along with climate change and telecommunications, will be of great importance as the current coverage in Tuvalu is inadequate.”
Source: theguardian.com
