Pacific pals: Taiwan's Tuvalu friendship - 12 Oct 07

Taiwan's ongoing attempts to enter the United Nations have received support from an unlikely ally, the tiny Pacific nation of Tuvalu.

But not without a price - Taiwan provides a third of the country's GDP.

Taiwan has long jostled with China for allies in the South-Pacific and they've both boldly used promises of investment to win friends.

Dan Nolan reports.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• tuvalu
• china
• taiwan
• dan
• nolan
• jazeera
• aljazeera

[MountAnalogue]

Well we already outsource all our jobs to Taiwan, causing everyone over here in America to be unemployed.

[A1R5N1P3R]

Taiwan is an amazing country, they are such an unsung friend of the USA, I really think the USA should do way more to show support for this great friend (Taiwan).

[elchasai]

how are you at sucking cock?

[Sabei0990]

and your from Taiwan?

[ryandasissoto]

I have been wanting to go there, but I don't know how. I am from Manila. I will do whatever it takes just to get there.

[nkj21221]

Many people and nations regard the way Taiwan operates its diplomatic power as "chequebook diplomacy".

[nkj21221]

The former ruling party KMT and the current ruling DPP have adopted this way as Taiwan's major diplomatic strategy against the pressure that comes from the PRC.

Why? It's because Taiwan knows very well that the key to survival of Taiwan, the benefits of 24million people on the island, and the maintenance of the core values that Taiwanese people share, cherish, and believe in is to gain international society's recognition.

[nkj21221]

And by supporting nations which are actually in need, despite the size, population, and economic performance, and thus win their friendship is what Taiwan thinks a good way to begin from and that it is necessary and crucial.

[nkj21221]

In many fields, such as technology, medicine, manufacture, economy etc., Taiwan has shown to the world how Taiwan is capable of fulfilling its responsibilities as a world member while supporting itself on its own.

Taiwan is not a "trouble maker".

It is the world that is not doing Taiwan justice！

[annarboriter]

The way these two countries play games, you might think that they never suffered a civil that divided the nation.