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Tuvalu’s pro-Taiwan PM Kausea Natano loses seat in election keenly watched by Beijing, US
- Prime minister Natano’s electoral loss came amid reports his country may switch diplomatic recognition to China
- Enele Sopoaga, one of Natano’s rivals, pledged support for Taiwan but wants a security deal with Australia scrapped
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The pro-Taiwan leader of the Pacific Islands nation of Tuvalu, Kausea Natano, lost his seat in an election closely watched by Taiwan, mainland China and the US, results showed on Saturday.
Tuvalu, with a population of about 11,200 spread across nine islands, is one of three remaining Pacific allies of Taiwan, after Nauru cut ties this month and switched to Beijing, which had promised more development help.
Prime Minister Natano had pledged to continue support for Taiwan, a diplomatic ally since 1979. Another leadership contender, Seve Paeniu, has said diplomatic ties should be reviewed, with the new government deciding whether Taiwan or Beijing can best respond to Tuvalu’s needs.
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The diplomatic tussle between Taipei and China comes amid a wider contest for influence in the Pacific between China and the US, with Washington recently pledging the first submarine cable to connect Tuvalu to global telecommunications.
Results for the electorate of Funafuti released on Saturday by an election official on Tuvalu TV showed Natano did not retain his seat. He could not immediately be reached for comment.
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