The Foreign Ministry responded positively to media inquiries on Thursday regarding recent political developments in the Pacific island nation of Tuvalu.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Jeff Liu (劉永健) addressed concerns of Tuvalu’s possible diplomatic switch from Taipei to Beijing, emphasizing that the known elected candidates all support the maintenance of the friendship between the two island nations.
The ally country held its parliamentary elections in late January, but severe weather delayed election results by two weeks as boats were prevented from bringing members of parliament to the capital to cast their picks for prime minister. All voters were expected to have arrived on Wednesday evening or Thursday morning and will convene to vote for a prime minister at a time set by the governor general.
The Foreign Ministry said that after the new prime minister is elected, Ambassador Andrew Tung-heng Lin (林東亨) will maintain close contact with the new government. Discussions on how Taiwan will participate in the inauguration ceremony are currently being held.