Earth Science News
WATER WORLD
Pacific nation Nauru cuts ties to Taiwan, switches to China
Pacific nation Nauru cuts ties to Taiwan, switches to China
by AFP Staff Writers
Sydney (AFP) Jan 16, 2024

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, self-ruled 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.

- Diplomatic 'step change' -

Beijing is "willing to open a new chapter" in ties with Nauru after its decision to diplomatically recognise only China, the spokesperson said.

Nauru -- population 12,500 -- is one of the world's smallest countries and lies about 4,000 kilometres (2,500 miles) northeast of Sydney.

Taiwan and China have engaged in a diplomatic tug-of-war to lure allies in the Pacific region, offering generous aid packages and assistance in agricultural and educational development.

Veteran politician David Adeang was elected Nauru's president in October last year.

Nauru's diplomatic move comes two days after voters in Taiwan elected a new president, Lai Ching-te, who is viewed by China as a dangerous separatist.

Massey University Pacific security expert Anna Powles said China would benefit by "shrinking Taiwan's diplomatic space".

"Nauru's decision to switch to China wasn't unexpected but it will certainly reverberate around the Pacific," she told AFP.

Nauru is the latest Pacific country to turn its back on a longstanding relationship with Taiwan.

In a shock announcement in 2019, Solomon Islands said it would officially recognise China.

That decision fuelled concern among Western allies that Beijing might seek to establish an increased military footprint in the strategically important Pacific region.

Only 12 states, including the Holy See, now fully recognise Taiwan.

In Africa, only Eswatini officially recognises Taiwan, while in Latin America, seven states have full diplomatic ties with the island, including Belize, Guatemala, Haiti and Paraguay.

Taiwan temporarily cut its 22-year diplomatic relationship with Nauru in July 2002.

But the two countries patched things up in 2005, when Nauru switched back to Taiwan.

Related Links
Water News - Science, Technology and Politics

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
WATER WORLD
China lodges complaint over attacks on shops in PNG: embassy
Beijing (AFP) Jan 11, 2024
Beijing said on Thursday it had lodged "solemn representations" with Papua New Guinea after several Chinese businesses were attacked during riots. "The Chinese Embassy in Papua New Guinea has lodged solemn representations with the Papua New Guinea side over the attacks on the Chinese shops," a statement on WeChat said, adding that an unspecified number of Chinese citizens were injured. At least 15 people were killed in the violence across Papua New Guinea's two largest cities, police said on Thu ... read more

WATER WORLD
Japan to double emergency funds after New Year's Day quake

Medicine for hostages, fresh aid enter Gaza: Qatar

Freezing in makeshift tents, Gazans burn plastic to survive

Streets all but empty in Ecuador as gang attacks sow terror

WATER WORLD
Epic says Apple court fight is 'lost'

NASA's Cryo Efforts Beyond the Atmosphere

Skeyeon unveils novel patent for Enhanced VLEO satellite communication

Researchers release open-source space debris model

WATER WORLD
URI professor leads effort demonstrating success of new technology in conducting deep-sea research on fragile organisms

Pacific nation Nauru cuts ties to Taiwan, switches to China

A single-celled microbe is helping corals survive climate change

Researchers pump brakes on 'blue acceleration' harming oceans

WATER WORLD
Chasing the light: Sandia study finds new clues about warming in the Arctic

Greenland has lost more ice than previously thought: study

NASA Study: More Greenland Ice Lost Than Previously Estimated

Deciphering the 2022 Antarctic heatwave

WATER WORLD
Innovative aquaculture technologies lead the way in sustainable seafood production

Syrian farmers abandon the land for steadier jobs

UH trains future agri-scientists to outsmart climate change threats to food crops

High-nutritional crops needed in Africa as population increases

WATER WORLD
Mauritius mopping up after storm Belal wreaks havoc

Iceland eruption confirms faultline has reawakened

Torrential rains leave at least 11 dead in Brazil

Villagers evacuate after Indonesia's Mount Marapi eruption

WATER WORLD
Seven killed by strike in Sudan's White Nile State: activists

More than 30 killed in strikes on Sudan capital: NGO

China supports Somalia's 'integrity' after Ethiopia-Somaliland accord

Chinese foreign minister to visit Egypt, Tunisia this week: ministry

WATER WORLD
Woolly mammoth movements tied to earliest Alaska hunting camps

Global study reveals increasing life expectancy and narrowing gender longevity gap

Many cities across the United States could become ghost towns by 2100

Money weighs on would-be Chinese parents as population falls

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.