Pacific island of Nauru cuts ties to Taiwan, switches to China

SYDNEY: The tiny South Pacific nation of Nauru announced Monday it was switching diplomatic ties from Taiwan to China, a move that bolsters Beijing’s ambitions in the region.

The Nauru government said it would no longer recognise Taiwan “as a separate country” but “rather as an inalienable part of China’s territory”.

China claims democratic, selfruled Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to one day seize it, by force if needed.

Nauru will “sever diplomatic relations” with Taiwan immediately and “no longer develop any official relations or official exchanges with Taiwan”, the island state said in a presidential statement.

Following the switch, Taiwan’s foreign ministry said it was ending diplomatic relations with Nauru “to safeguard our national dignity”.

Nauru’s decision will likely be seen as a major coup for Beijing – it was one of the few countries left that officially recognised Taiwan on a diplomatic basis.

“This change is in no way intended to affect our existing warm relationships with other countries,” the Nauru government statement said.

“Nauru remains a sovereign and independent nation and wants to maintain friendly relations with other countries.”

Beijing welcomed Nauru’s switch.

“China appreciates and welcomes the Nauru government’s decision,” a spokesperson for Beijing’s foreign ministry said. Beijing is “willing to open a new chapter” in ties with Nauru after its decision to diplomatically recognise only China”, the spokesperson said.

Taiwan and China have engaged in a diplomatic tug-ofwar to lure allies in the Pacific region. Nauru is the latest Pacific country to turn its back on a longstanding relationship with Taiwan.