Tuvalu Foreign Minister Opts Out of UN Conference After China Blocks Taiwanese Delegates

Tuvalu Foreign Minister Simon Kofe speaks during an interview with Reuters in Taipei, Taiwan on Nov. 21, 2019. Fabian Hamacher/Reuters

Tuvalu’s foreign minister has pulled out of the United Nations’ Ocean Conference on June 27 after China blocked three Taiwanese delegates from attending.

Tuvalu’s Simon Kofe diverted his flight to Brisbane, Australia and headed early to Fiji for the Pacific Islands Forum in mid-July. The Pacific Islands Forum involves all Pacific nations, as well as Australia and New Zealand.