Australia and Oceania countries

Nauru cuts diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favour of China

15 January 2024 11:47 (UTC +04:00)

Nauru has become Taiwan's first ally to make a diplomatic switch to Beijing, just days after the island's presidential election, APA reports citing BBC.

Nauru's government said it would "no longer recognise [Taiwan] as a separate country but rather as an inalienable part of China's territory".

Taiwan called the timing of the move "China's retaliation against our democratic elections".

Nauru's diplomatic switch leaves just 12 countries still keeping diplomatic ties with Taipei, including Guatemala, Paraguay and the Marshall Islands.

Taiwan's election over the weekend saw voters pick pro-sovereignty candidate William Lai as their next president - a move that angered Beijing.

Beijing has labelled Mr Lai a "troublemaker" over remarks he made in the past supporting Taiwanese independence, which it sees as a red line.

Taipei's deputy foreign minister Tien Chung-kwang confirmed that it has severed ties with the Pacific island nation, saying the move was "in order to uphold [Taiwan's] sovereignty and dignity".

Beijing welcomed Nauru's decision.

"The decision of the Government of Nauru to resume diplomatic relations with China fully demonstrates once again that the one-China principle is the will of the people and the trend of the times," China's foreign ministry said.

This is not the first time Nauru has cut ties with Taiwan. In 2002, Nauru made a similar diplomatic switch to China - it later restored relations with Taiwan in May 2005.