Taiwan's top leader makes surprise Pacific trip while China watches closely
Taiwanʼs President visits small Pacific nation Tuvalu during his multi-country tour. The diplomatic journey strengthens bonds with Taiwanʼs allies while showing support for climate-threatened Pacific partners
Lai Ching-te‚ Taiwanʼs President landed in the tiny Pacific nation of Tuvalu this wednesday morning (his private-jet touched down at Funafuti airport after leaving Marshall Islands)
Different countries‚ the same belief in democracy; different time zones‚ the same air of freedom
The quick one-day stop shows Taiwanʼs strong ties with its Pacific friends: earlier this year Feleti Teo Tuvalus new leader went to Taipei for october festivities. The small country (which has only 11k people living on nine low-lying islands) gets help from Taiwan to protect its shores from rising seas
Taiwan and its partners - Australia US and Japan are working on a first-ever undersea cable project thatʼll connect Tuvalu to world-wide internet. The timing is important as half of Tuvalus main town might be under water by 2050
The visit comes as mainland-China keeps trying to win over Pacific nations; one candidate in Tuvalus recent election even said heʼd think about switching sides. China sees Taiwan as its territory and doesnt like when Taiwan leaders travel abroad - theyʼve done two big military drills near Taiwan this year
Lai will make stops in Guam and Palau before heading back home on friday. His trip shows how Taiwan keeps working with its friends even as bigger powers try to change things in the Pacific
