TUVALU (TVBS News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) visited Tuvalu on Wednesday (Dec. 4), where Prime Minister Feleti Teo hosted him at a state banquet. Teo presented a model of the parliament building Taiwan is helping construct, reaffirming a commitment to stronger bilateral relations.
Lai emphasized that construction on Tuvalu's parliament building will begin in the first half of next year, marking a joint effort to deepen democracy and support the people of Tuvalu. An official noted that Tuvalu is the only democratic ally in the Pacific without a dedicated parliamentary chamber. Taiwan has supported this project since 2021; completion is anticipated by May 2027.
The two nations signed a joint communique to deepen their partnership and witnessed their foreign ministers signing a letter of intent for the Central Pacific Cable (CPC) project. This initiative aims to enhance Tuvalu's external communication capabilities.
Lai stated that Taiwan, alongside the U.S., Australia, Japan, and New Zealand, collaborates with Tuvalu on the CPC, a name chosen by Tuvalu's government to symbolize "connection and progress." An insider highlighted the significance of the CPC as Tuvalu's first submarine cable, linking it with other Pacific allies like the Marshall Islands.
