- Title: Tuvalu minister says both China, U.S. needed for climate change action
- Date: 25th August 2022
- Summary: FUNAFUTI, TUVALU (AUGUST 25, 2022) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) TUVALU JUSTICE, COMMUNICATIONS AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER, SIMON KOFE, SAYING: "I withdrew from the Oceans Conference in Lisbon. The reason I pulled out of the meeting was because China had opposed the Taiwanese delegates on our delegation list and they threatened to challenge the whole delegation if we did not comply. So I thought that was, you know, bully tactics from China and we took a step to withdraw, I took the steps to withdraw from that, to draw attention to the actions by China because we feel that we are a sovereign state and China and other countries need to respect that, because on our delegation was not just Taiwanese, we had an American, a Portuguese on the delegation list and they were not challenged but the Taiwanese were challenged, and so we do what we can to support our friends in Taiwan."
- Embargoed: 8th September 2022 04:25
- Keywords: China Pacific Simon Kofe Tuvalu United States climate change
- Location: FUNAFUTI, TUVALU
- City: FUNAFUTI, TUVALU
- Country: Tuvalu
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Climate Change,Environment,General News,Government / Politics,Climate Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA004050325082022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Both the United States and China need to be on board to ensure peace and bring action on climate change, Tuvalu's foreign minister said on Thursday (August 25).
Simon Kofe told Reuters at a virtual Newsmaker event that Tuvalu was mindful when approaching geopolitics in the Pacific that China needs to be involved to address challenges facing his country and the broader region.
“If we are truly serious about world peace, and we're really serious about addressing climate change, then there really is no good guys and bad guys in how things are painted at the moment. We need China on board. We need the U.S. on board,†he said.
Still, Kofe said Tuvalu, one of four countries in the Pacific that has diplomatic relations with Taiwan rather than China, believed Taiwan remained a very strong partner despite coming under pressure to switch its recognition to Beijing.
"We're not looking to do anything to China. In fact, we try to avoid them as much as possible. But when we are confronted by them ... we are not afraid to speak our minds and to make a stand," he said.
The Pacific region has become increasingly contested, with China's growing influence sparking pledges by the United States and its partners pledging to do more.
A recent security pact between China and the Solomon Islands has raised concerns about Beijing's ambitions to expand its military presence.
Kofe grabbed global attention for his nation of 12,000 people last year when he addressed a global climate conference standing ankle deep in the sea to illustrate Tuvalu was "sinking."
Forty percent of the capital district is underwater at high tide, and the tiny country is forecast to be submerged by the end of the century.
In June, Kofe pulled out of the U.N. ocean conference after China blocked Taiwanese nationals that were part of their delegation from attending.
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