Taipei: The South Pacific nation of Nauru that lies about 4,000km northeast of Sydney, announced it was severing diplomatic ties with Taiwan and would instead recognise China.
In a media release, 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 said it would “sever diplomatic relations” with Taiwan immediately, and “no longer develop any official relations or official exchanges with Taiwan”.Following the switch, Taiwan in turn said it was ending diplomatic relations with Nauru “to safeguard our national dignity”, said Taiwan’s deputy foreign minister Tien Chung-kwang.
Nauru’s decision will likely be seen as a major coup for Beijing.
“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.”
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.
Taiwan also cut its 17-year diplomatic relationship with Nauru in July 2002.
But the two countries patched things up in 2005, when Nauru switched back to Taiwan.
The island microstate – population 12,500 – is one of the world’s smallest countries. — AFP
