TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Tuvalu’s Speaker of Parliament, Sir Iakoba Taeia Italeli, arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday (Sept. 10) to strengthen parliamentary exchanges and deepen ties between Taiwan and Tuvalu.

This is Italeli’s first visit to Taiwan, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). Over five days, he and his delegation will meet with President Lai Ching-te (賴清德), Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜), and Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍)

Italeli will also attend a banquet hosted by Vice Foreign Minister Tien Chung-kwang (田中光).

The parliament speaker’s visit comes as China’s influence among Pacific Island nations continues to grow. Last year, China and the Solomon Islands, a former diplomatic ally of Taiwan until 2019, agreed to increased law enforcement cooperation. 

This was a follow-up to the 2022 deal on security. Beijing has already provided the Solomon Islands with police training and riot-control equipment.

Last month, Palau President Surangel Whipps, Jr. revealed he was facing immense pressure from China to switch recognition. Palau and Taiwan have maintained diplomatic relations since 1999. Whipps said Beijing was enticing him with promises of waves of Chinese tourists if he cut ties with Taiwan.

Tuvalu is one of Taiwan’s three remaining allies in the Pacific. The two nations share a friendly relationship, built on shared values, MOFA said. Cooperation in areas such as climate change and information and communications technology has long persisted, it said. 

The ministry added that Italeli's visit will focus on furthering discussions on these issues and enhancing the bilateral partnership. 

The Marshall Islands still maintains ties with Taiwan, while Kiribati and Nauru severed official relations in 2019 and 2024, respectively.