Tuvalu Rejects China Offer to Build Islands, Retains Ties With Taiwan

Tuvalu Rejects China Offer to Build Islands, Retains Ties With Taiwan
Tuvalu Foreign Minister Simon Kofe speaks during an interview with Reuters in Taipei, Taiwan on Nov. 21, 2019. Fabian Hamacher/Reuters
Reuters
Updated:

TAIPEI—Tuvalu’s foreign minister said on Nov. 21 the South Pacific nation had rejected offers from Chinese companies to build artificial islands to help it cope with rising sea levels.

Tuvalu foreign minister Simon Kofe instead explicitly expressed support for Taiwan and said his country was working to set up a group uniting Taiwan’s remaining four allies in the Pacific.