NAURU: The South Pacific nation of Nauru has announced the severance of diplomatic ties with Taiwan and the recognition of China, according to an official government post on social media.
President David Adeang made the announcement in a national address posted on Facebook, citing “the Nauru government’s decision to recognize the People’s Republic of China.”
The Nauru government’s media release clarified that it would no longer recognize Taiwan “as a separate country” but instead as an “inalienable part of China’s territory.” As a result, Nauru will immediately sever diplomatic relations with Taiwan and cease any official relations or exchanges with the island nation.
This decision is expected to be viewed as a significant diplomatic victory for Beijing, as Nauru was one of the few nations that officially recognized Taiwan on a diplomatic basis. With this move, only 12 states, including the Holy See, now fully recognize Taiwan.
Nauru, with a population of around 12,500 people, follows a trend in the Pacific region, with other countries like Solomon Islands having previously switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 2019. The move underscores China’s efforts to expand its influence in the Pacific and gain international support. In Africa, only Eswatini currently maintains official recognition of Taiwan, while in Latin America, seven states, including Belize, Guatemala, Haiti, and Paraguay, maintain full diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
