Taiwan and Tuvalu, one of the few countries that recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state, signed cooperation agreements focused on diplomatic personnel training, technical cooperation, and mutual criminal justice. The agreements were signed to combat organized crime, drug-related crimes, and money laundering, among others. China has attempted to isolate Taiwan by pulling some of these nations to its side, but Tuvalu rejected Chinese aid to build artificial islands. In the US, a group of congressional lawmakers introduced legislation in January seeking to resume formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan and to support Taipei’s membership in international organizations.