EXPLAINER: What the Tuvalu election means for China-Pacific relations

On Friday, the tiny Pacific island nation of Tuvalu heads to the polls in an election that’s being watched from Beijing to Canberra

SYDNEY -- On Friday, the tiny Pacific island nation of Tuvalu heads to the polls in an election that's being watched from Beijing to Canberra. Voters will choose the members of its 16-seat parliament, setting up negotiations to choose a prime minister.

Elections in tropical Tuvalu typically garner limited international attention, but the increasing influence of China in the region, and Tuvalu's diplomatic ties to the government of Taiwan, has brought added attention to this year’s vote. A proposed security treaty with Australia could also hang in the balance.

Here's an explanation of what's at stake:

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Tuvalu consists of nine coral atolls in the South Pacific Ocean. It's about half way between Hawaii and Australia.