Pacific island country, before independence the Ellice Islands (6)

I believe the answer is:

tuvalu

(Other definitions for tuvalu that I've seen before include "Polynesian country, independent from the UK since 1978, formerly the Ellice Islands" , "SW Pacific country" , "Pacific island country" , "[PACIFIC ISLAND]s" , "Pacific island state" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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