Tuvalu PM'S defeat in confidence vote will not affect Taiwan ties: MOFA
2004/08/26
China News Agency

Taipei, Aug. 26 (CNA) -- Diplomatic relations between the Republic of China and the South Pacific island nation of Tuvalu will not be affected by that country's leadership change, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thursday.

Lin Sung-huan, director of the ministry's East Asian and Pacific affairs department, was responding to foreign wire service reports that Tuvalu Prime Minister Saufatu Sopoanga had lost his job after losing a vote of confidence Wednesday.

According to the reports, Sopoanga was defeated 8-6 in the 15-seat parliament, with one absentee.

Lin said Sopoanga's defeat mainly resulted from Parliament Speaker Otinielu Tausi's joining the opposition camp because of his disagreement with Sopoanga's financial policies.

Noting that the Tuvalu Parliament is scheduled to elect a new prime minister next week, Lin said that no matter who wins the premiership, relations between Taiwan and Tuvalu will remain intact. "We have consistently maintained cordial relations with Tuvalu's various political groups. We believe that our relations with the South Pacific island nation will remain solid no matter who will be that country's new prime minister," Lin added.