Visiting Tuvaluan Prime Minister Feleti Penitala Teo criticized the UN’s exclusion of Taiwan as a “hypocritical” act during a meeting with President William Lai (賴清德) in Taipei yesterday.
It was “hypocritical” of the UN to not include Taiwan and its people in its system even though the world body has championed “inclusivity” and “the principle of not leaving anyone behind,” said Teo, who arrived in Taiwan earlier yesterday for a five-day visit.
Teo said he had made “a very strong statement in support of Taiwan’s” participation in the UN system during this year’s UN General Assembly at the end of last month.
Photo: CNA
“As long as I’m in office, I and Tuvalu will continue ... the strong advocation in support of Taiwan’s participation and reintegration into the global system,” said Teo, who took office in February.
The Republic of China lost its seat at the UN as the People’s Republic of China became a member in 1971.
Lai thanked Tuvalu for its “staunch support” for Taiwan’s inclusion in UN mechanisms and pledged to strengthen collaboration with the Pacific island ally to tackle climate change, particularly the urgent issue of rising sea levels.
“Taiwan is also a maritime nation and it empathizes deeply with Tuvalu... Going forward, our nations will continue to respond to the challenges of climate change together,” Lai said.
At a separate meeting yesterday, Lai met with Saint Lucian Senate President Alvina Reynolds and House of Assembly Speaker Claudius Francis.
In meetings with the delegations from Tuvalu and St Lucia, Lai emphasized the shared values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law, which he said had laid the foundation for their diplomatic alliances and bilateral ties.
“Taiwan will continue to promote values-based diplomacy” and “deepen cooperation with not only St Lucia, but also other democratic partners,” Lai told the St Lucian parliamentary leaders, who arrived on Monday for a five-day visit.
Reynolds said that their visit marked “a celebration and a reaffirmation of the deep diplomatic bonds that have existed between our peoples.”
Francis lauded Taiwan for “fostering growth and enriching the lives of all St Lucia” over the years through joint projects in the areas of healthcare, education, agriculture and infrastructure.
The collaborations served as “a testament to the enduring bond of solidarity and shared values that unite us,” he said.
The Tuvaluan prime minister, accompanied by the nation’s top diplomat Paulson Panapa and other officials, and the St Lucian parliamentary leaders are among the guests invited to the official Double Ten National Day ceremony tomorrow.
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