Marshall Islands’ new president David Kabua likely to keep diplomatic ties with Taiwan
- Kabua, a son of the nation’s founding leader, beat incumbent Hilda Heine in a parliament vote by a count of 20 votes to 12, with one abstention
- He is seen as a ‘steady’ leader who is likely to maintain the Pacific nation’s status quo with Taiwan, observers say
The Republic of the Marshall Islands on Monday announced David Kabua as its new president. Kabua is a political veteran and moderate who is expected to maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan despite speculation that a new administration could prompt the archipelago to cut ties in favour of Beijing.
Kabua, the second son of founding president Amata Kabua, beat incumbent Hilda Heine by a count of 20 votes to 12, with one abstention, in a parliamentary vote by the Marshall Islands, an archipelagic nation which maintains a unique defence agreement with the United States.
Observers say he is expected to be “steady at the helm” of the country, which has recently come under scrutiny for maintaining ties with Taiwan while neighbouring Pacific nations switched diplomatic allegiance to China.
Six countries have dropped their recognition in favour of Beijing since Taiwan’s current president Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016, including the Solomon Islands and Kiribati.
Just four of Taiwan’s remaining 15 allies are located in the Pacific, giving the Marshall Islands has a “strong hand” in its relationship with Taiwan, said Patrick Gerard Buchan at the Washington think tank Centre for Strategic and International Studies.
“Taipei really can’t afford to drop any more of its existing partners,” said Buchan. “Kabua has served for many years in the National Assembly, and I don’t see him seeking to adjust the current relationship with Taiwan.”
