Tuvalu and Australia inked a fresh security memorandum last Thursday. It is believed to be a component of an endeavor to lessen China’s sway over the area. An extension of Australia’s security guarantee to Tuvalu is included in the document. It comes after an agreement made in the previous year that essentially gave Canberra the power to veto any security agreement Tuvalu signs with another nation.
Additionally, Australia declared that it will give Tuvalu aid totaling more than 70 million dollars. The funds will go toward building a national security center, a land reclamation project, and an underwater cable. More nations in the South Pacific have switched their diplomatic ties from Taiwan to China. In January, Nauru was the last country to do so. As a result, Tuvalu is now one of just three Pacific island countries that maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Tuvalu’s commitment to preserving its relations with Taiwan has been reaffirmed by Feleti Teo, the country’s new prime minister appointed in February.
