Press Release

Legislative Yuan

January 10, 2023

Legislative Yuan President You Si-kun met a Tuvaluan delegation led by Parliament Speaker Samuelu Teo and Mme. Teo

You Si-kun: Taiwan and Tuvalu can make more contributions to peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region

Accompanied by Legislators Kung Wen-chi and Chiu Chih-wei; Secretary General Lin Jih-jia; and Consultant Chou Ya-shu, President of the Legislative Yuan You Si-kun met with a Tuvaluan delegation led by Parliament Speaker Samuelu Teo and Mme. Teo. 

In meeting the group, President You said he was privileged to meet with Speaker Teo. On behalf of Taiwan’s Legislature, he extended a sincere welcome to all the esteemed guests. Tuvalu, he said, is a reliable friend of Taiwan’s in the Pacific. During the pandemic over the past two years, he had only been able to interact with Speaker Teo online via the Asia Pacific Parliamentarians’ Union, and thus was particularly pleased to meet the Speaker and his wife in person.

President You said Speaker Teo he had helped to pass many resolutions in support of Taiwan since taking office in 2019. On behalf of Taiwan’s legislature, President You expressed his great appreciation for these efforts. During the UN Ocean Conference held in Portugal in June 2021, Tuvalu’s Foreign Minister Simon Kofe left the meeting because China had blocked Taiwanese delegates attached to the Tuvaluan delegation. This was an example of China’s hegemonic bullying. The people of Taiwan had been touched by Tuvalu’s support, You said, continuing that the Pacific had become a region of great-power competition. China, he said, has increased its influence in the region. Facing this reality, Tuvalu had sent a clear message to China, and Speaker You expressed thanks to Tuvalu on behalf of the legislature and the nation.

President You stated according to recent linguistic and anthropological studies, Taiwan is the origin of Austronesians. For example, Tuvaluan is similar to some of Taiwan’s indigenous languages, as seen in the word for the number five. In Amis, Beinan, and Tuvaluan, it is “lima.” Speaker You was encouraged by this, as it shows that Taiwan and Tuvalu share democratic values as well as a timeless connection through language, culture, and way of life. Speaker You said that he is convinced that he has Austronesian blood, and thus is a distant relative of Speaker Teo’s. He also said that Taiwan and Tuvalu are like family supporting each other. Therefore, friendship between the nations should be especially valued.

President You also stated that during its stay in Taiwan, the delegation would visit sites in the green energy, agricultural, and fishery and husbandry industries. The Joint Statement on Cooperation Between the Legislative Yuan of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Parliament of Tuvalu the two sides signed would deepen parliamentary exchanges, cooperation, and experience-sharing concerning these industries. He closed by expressing hope that Taiwan and Tuvalu would work together to enhance peace and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific region.    

In his remarks, Speaker Teo expressed gratitude to President You for the warm welcome. This was, he said, his second time visiting the Legislative Yuan in his capacity as Speaker of the Parliament of Tuvalu. He said that Tuvalu become Taiwan’s first diplomatic link in the Pacific region in 1979 and was its oldest Pacific ally. He was pleased to see that the friendship growing stronger, developing into brotherhood. There is a saying that friends are there to have fun, but brothers are born to lean on each other’s shoulders in difficult times.

Speaker Teo stated that since its independence from the United Kingdom in 1978, Tuvalu has remained without a permanent parliament building. He wanted to thank the government and people of Taiwan for their generosity in responding to a request to construct such a building. He mentioned that Tuvalu has sensed China’s presence in the Pacific and that China’s influence continues to grow, leading to Solomon Islands and Kiribati switching diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China. However, Tuvalu would not deviate from its path of maintaining diplomatic relations with other countries based on shared democratic principles. Tuvalu would, he avowed, continue to support Taiwan’s participation in international organizations.

Legislator Chiu Chih-wei then stated that he was honored to attend the signing ceremony. Taiwan and Tuvalu are not only distant relatives but also close neighbors. His electorate in Kaohsiung is home to a high-tech industry, distant fishing industry, and aquaculture industry. He thanked Tuvalu for its help looking after Taiwanese fishing boats in the South Pacific, and hoped for greater exchanges in the area of fishing. He also thanked Tuvalu for its staunch support in the international community, such that Taiwan does not feel alone.

Legislator Kung Wen-chi opened by saying that he represented Taiwan’s indigenous people and that both Tuvalu and Taiwan are beautiful islands. He had, he said, visited Tuvalu in the company of former President Ma Ying-jeou albeit only for a single morning. He was concerned by the affect rising sea levels would have on Tuvaluan housing. Afterwards, he had suggested that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs show more concern about allies affected by climate change. The Legislative Yuan is presently reviewing the Climate Change Act, and a Climate Change Adaptation Fund will be established to help disadvantaged groups in Taiwan and diplomatic allies.

The two sides then exchanged views on energy policy, green energy development, and indigenous policy. President You and Speaker Teo then signed the Joint Statement for Cooperation between the Legislative Yuan of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Parliament of Tuvalu. Afterward, President You said that since taking office two years prior, he had not had many opportunities to go abroad due to the pandemic, but hoped to have the chance in the future. Despite this, other channels for connecting had proven useful, such as the virtual meeting of the Asian-Pacific Parliamentarians’ Union. He welcomed the guests from Tuvalu to visit Taiwan more often and consider it a second home.

Speaker Teo then responded to media questions by sharing that the Tuvaluan government in 2022 had provided Taiwan with strong support for participating in the World Health Assembly (WHA), United Nations, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). In May of the preceding year, Mr. Isaia Taape, Tuvaluan Permanent Secretary for Health, wrote to the World Health Organization (WHO) Director General concerning a proposal he later spoke in favor of during the WHA General Committee and Plenary Meeting. In September, Prime Minister Kausea Natano spoke out during the UN General Debate for Taiwan, underlining Tuvalu’s unswerving support for Taiwan’s joining the UN as well as participating in WHO, the ICAO, the UNFCCC, and other UN specialized agencies. In October, Tuvalu Minister for Transport, Energy, and Tourism Nielu Meisake sent a letter to the ICAO chair expressing support for Taiwan and urging the organization to admit Taiwan based on concerns for regional and global aviation safety. In November, Prime Minister Natano spoke in favor of Taiwan when he released Tuvalu’s country statement at the UNFCCC COP27 World Leaders Summit. He showed his support with concrete actions and to demonstrate Taiwan’s contributions in combating climate change, so that the international community would have a clearer understanding of Taiwan’s position on participating in the UNFCCC.

The meeting concluded successfully at 12:00 p.m.

The following is a translation of President You’s remarks:

Hon. Speaker Teo and Mme. Teo: Hon. Kiritome ad Mme. Kiritome; Hon. MP Fatoga and Mme. Fatoga; Assistant Chief Tepaa; Members of the Niutao Town Council Kapua, Tanei, Gasote, and Gatii; Secretary Viliunasa; Ambassador Paeniu; Deputy Foreign Minister Tien, Legislators Chiu Chih-wei, Kung Wen-chi, and Chiu Chen-yuan; Secretary General Lin; esteemed guests:

Good morning!

It is a great honor to meet Speaker Teo. On behalf of Taiwan’s legislature, I warmly welcome you. Tuvalu is Taiwan’s best friend in the Pacific. During the pandemic over the past two years, we have only interacted online as we participated in the Asian-Pacific Parliamentarians’ Union. Thus it is with special pleasure I meet you today.

Since taking office in 2019, Speaker Teo has helped to pass various resolutions in support of Taiwan. On behalf of the Legislative Yuan, I want to express my heartfelt appreciation. At the UN Ocean Conference held in Portugal in June 2021, Tuvalu’s Foreign Minister Simon Kofe pulled out of the meeting because China blocked Taiwanese delegates attached to Tuvalu’s delegation, exposing China’s hegemonic bullying. The people of Taiwan are touched by your strong friendship. Currently, the Pacific region is being competed for by many parties, including China, which has growing influence. Facing this situation, Tuvalu has sent a clear message concerning Chinese hegemony. On behalf of the legislature, I offer my utmost respect.

According to recent linguistic and anthropological studies, Taiwan is the birthplace of Austronesian culture. For example, Tuvaluan is similar to some of Taiwan’s indigenous languages. Take, for example, the number five, which is “lima” in Amis, Paiwan, Beinan, and Tuvaluan. This is a very happy finding, and shows that Taiwan and Tuvalu share democratic values as well as a timeless connection of language, culture, and way of life. I myself have Austronesian blood and therefore am pleased to be a distant relative of Speaker Teo. Taiwan and Tuvalu are like family, and we should cherish our relationship.