対台湾関係、現状維持か ツバル新首相が一部メディアと会見

【フナフティ（ツバル）ＡＦＰ＝時事】南太平洋の島国ツバルで２８日、フェレティ・テオ氏が新首相に就任した。テオ氏はＡＦＰなど一部メディアに対し、「開発面での優先課題」に集中して取り組みたいと述べた。注目されている台湾との外交関係については、検討すべき課題は現時点ではないとの認識を示した。（写真はツバルの首都フナフティで就任記念式典に臨むフェレティ・テオ首相）
　テオ氏は、「（外交）関係では特に大きな課題がない場合」には見直しに時間をかけるつもりはないと言明。「現時点では台湾との早期の協議を必要とするような主要課題は存在しない」と語った。
　ツバルは、台湾と外交関係を維持する１２か国の一つ。総選挙戦では、次期政権は台湾と断交して中国と国交を樹立することになるかもしれないとの見方も浮上していた。
　一方で、ツバルは経済問題や気候変動対策などさまざまな課題に直面している。テオ氏はそうしたことを踏まえ、地政学的なゲームではなく、「開発面での優先課題」を重視する考えを強調した。
　昨年１１月にオーストラリアとの間で署名した気候変動や安全保障をめぐる２国間協定については、一部見直しに意欲を示しながら、「撤回するつもりはない」と述べた。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2024/02/29-18:16）

Tuvalu's new Prime Minister Feleti Teo says his government is focused on the many key development priorities facing his Pacific Island nation, not debates about Taiwan relations that have consumed outsiders.
The government will concentrate working on the key priorities of Tuvalu he told a small group of media outlets, including AFP, on Wednesday.
Unless there are any major issues in that relationship, he said it would not be worth spending time on an assessment and investigation of that relationship.
As of now, there are no existing major issues... which may require immediate talks with Taiwan.
Tuvalu, with a population of 11,000, is one of just 12 states that still have formal diplomatic relations with Taipei rather than Beijing.
During the election campaign, a senior lawmaker floated the idea that Tuvalu's new government could flip recognition to China, in what would be a major diplomatic victory for Beijing.
But with Tuvalu facing a raft of economic and climate challenges, Teo said there were many key development priorities to look at rather than geopolitical games.
Teo said he also had no intention to revoke a landmark climate and security treaty with Australia, but did want to rework some aspects of the agreement.
Under the treaty inked between the two countries in November, Tuvalu's citizens would have the right to live in Australia if their homeland is lost beneath the Pacific.
Two of the country's nine coral islands have already largely disappeared under the waves, and climate scientists fear the entire archipelago will be uninhabitable within the next 80 years.
The pact commits Australia to defending Tuvalu in the face of natural disasters, health pandemics and military aggression.
But it also offers Australia a say in any defence pacts Tuvalu signs with other countries, raising concerns on the island that Tuvalu was handing over its sovereignty.
The government is concerned by this provision since it questions the independent sovereignty of Tuvalu, he said.
Teo suggested the previous administration had rushed through the deal, but was confident a new agreement could be found with Canberra.
The government of Tuvalu would like to re-open dialogue with Australia on those particular provisions, in consideration of the independent sovereignty of Tuvalu.