The two nations had announced the deal in November, but it was thrown into doubt during an election campaign in the remote atoll nation of 11,000 people that is threatened by rising sea levels.
Feleti Teo became prime minister in February, after a general election closely watched by Taiwan, China, the United States and Australia, amid a geopolitical tussle for influence in the South Pacific. Tuvalu is one of three remaining Pacific allies of Taiwan after Nauru cut ties last month and switched to Beijing.
“The new Government of Tuvalu has confirmed its desire to proceed with the Falepili Union,” Conroy said in parliament on Tuesday, as he tabled the deal for ratification.
Seems a sad path from a relatively innocent island ‘paradise’ to the decidedly un-innocent brutal nature of contemporary Australian culture.