TUVALU has joined the list of countries which have threatened not to attend the Pacific Islands Forum in Solomon Islands after the hosts blocked all external partners over a rift with Taiwan.
Prime Minister Feleti Teo said he had written to his Solomons counterpart Jeremiah Manele to outline Tuvalu’s position.
“The region does not need these kinds of distractions,” Teo said.
“We have far more important issues to focus on, rather than letting ourselves be pressured from outside.”
Manele initially blocked Taiwan’s attendance, ostensibly to show support for China, which has denied any involvement in what has become a regional diplomatic effort that stopped the US, China, and development partners from attending the Honiara talks.
Teo said he had written to Manele outlining concerns around the inconvenient timing of the decision, and his “difficulties supporting the justification” behind the move.
“We’ll see what the rest of the leaders’ response is to the proposal by the Solomons, and then we’ll make our decision,” he said.
“I’ll wait for the final decision on this arrangement, and then reconsider my participation,” he said.
Tuvalu is one of three Pacific countries which recognises Taiwan as a nation. China’s position is that Taiwan is a province.