The Pacific island nation of Nauru declared on Monday that it was severing diplomatic relations with Taiwan and officially recognizing China. The announcement followed closely on the heels of Taiwan’s election of Lai Ching-te, a pro-independence leader, as its next president.
The Nauru government, in a media release, stated that it would no longer consider Taiwan as a separate country but instead as an integral part of China’s territory. This decision dealt a significant blow to Taiwan, as Nauru was one of the last countries to maintain official diplomatic ties with the island nation.
The move was met with swift retaliation from Taiwan, with Deputy Foreign Minister Tien Chung-kwang announcing the immediate end of diplomatic relations with Nauru “to safeguard our national dignity.” Taiwan’s Presidential Office accused Beijing of “diplomatic repression,” characterizing it as a challenge to a stable international order.
Nauru’s decision is expected to be a major diplomatic victory for China, which claims Taiwan as its own and has consistently sought to diminish Taiwan’s international recognition. The island nation, with a population of 12,500, now joins a growing list of Pacific countries that have shifted allegiance from Taiwan to China in recent years.
Analysts speculate that the change in Nauru’s foreign policy may be linked to the election of President David Adeang in October of the previous year. Adeang’s ascendancy to power was unexpected, and his administration’s abrupt change in foreign policy has raised eyebrows, especially considering Nauru’s previous vocal criticism of China.
China welcomed Nauru’s decision, with a spokesperson for Beijing’s foreign ministry expressing appreciation for Nauru’s recognition of the “One China Principle.” The spokesperson reiterated that there is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of it. China expressed willingness to establish a new chapter in bilateral ties with Nauru based on this principle.
Nauru, in its own statement, emphasized that the decision would not impact its existing relationships with other countries and reiterated its commitment to maintaining friendly ties globally. The international community will be closely watching the repercussions of this diplomatic realignment and its potential impact on the geopolitical landscape in the Pacific region.
