On Monday, the small Pacific nation of Nauru declared the termination of its diplomatic relations with Taiwan, opting to recognize China instead. The decision followed Taiwan’s recent election of the independence-leaning Lai Ching-te as its next president.
In an official statement, the Nauru government stated that it would no longer regard Taiwan as a separate country but as an integral part of China’s territory. China claims sovereignty over democratic Taiwan and has expressed its intention to reunify with it, even by force if necessary.
Nauru promptly announced the immediate severance of diplomatic ties with Taiwan and declared its intent to cease any official relations or exchanges with Taiwan. In response, Taiwan’s deputy foreign minister, Tien Chung-kwang, announced the end of diplomatic relations with Nauru, citing the protection of national dignity. Taiwan’s Presidential Office accused Beijing of engaging in “diplomatic repression” and criticized it for challenging international stability and democratic values.
Nauru’s decision is significant as it makes the island nation one of the few remaining countries officially recognizing Taiwan on a diplomatic basis. The move is likely to be viewed as a diplomatic victory for Beijing in its ongoing competition with Taiwan for allies in the Pacific region.
The decision by Nauru, known for its previous vocal criticisms of China, surprised some analysts, who speculated that the change in foreign policy might be connected to the election of Nauru’s president, David Adeang, in October of the previous year.
This development follows a pattern in the Pacific region, where other countries, such as the Solomon Islands in 2019, have shifted their allegiance from Taiwan to China. Such geopolitical changes have raised concerns among Western nations about China’s expanding influence and military presence in the strategically important Pacific region.
As of now, only a handful of states, including the Holy See, continue to fully recognize Taiwan. In Africa, only Eswatini has official ties with Taiwan, while in Latin America, a few countries, including Belize, Guatemala, Haiti, and Paraguay, maintain full diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
