Photo: Jason Oxenham/Pool/New Zealand Herald/AP. Retrieved from washingtonpost.com
The Pacific island nation of Nauru announced on Monday it was severing diplomatic ties with Taiwan and instead recognizing China.
The surprise switch shaved Taiwan’s diplomatic allies down to fewer than a dozen nations. In a statement posted online, Nauru’s government said the move was “in the best interests” of the country.
“This means that the Republic of Nauru will no longer recognize the Republic of China (Taiwan) as a separate country but rather as an inalienable part of China’s territory, and will sever ‘diplomatic relations’ with Taiwan as of this day and no longer develop any official relations or official exchanges with Taiwan,” it said in a statement that echoed standard Chinese descriptions.
The announcement came just two days after a historic election delivered Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party an unprecedented third term in office, despite Beijing’s efforts to sway the vote in favor of the more China-friendly party.
“This timing is not only China’s retaliation against our democratic elections but also a direct challenge to the international order,” Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted online. “Taiwan stands unbowed & will continue as a force for good.”