<span style="color: #222222;">The tiny South Pacific nation of Tuvalu has rejected offers from Chinese firms to build artificial islands that would help it deal with rising sea levels.<br />''<br />''Tuvalu Foreign Minister Simon Kofe told Reuters he saw the offers as an attempt to reduce Taiwan's influence in the region. But he instead reaffirmed his country's support for Taiwan.<br />''<br />''China has increased efforts to expand its influence in the Pacific, alarming the United States and its allies. Beijing has been accused of luring them in with the promise of financial aid and airplanes.</span><br />