YAREN: Oceanic island nation Nauru announced Monday it was severing “diplomatic ties” with Taiwan after Taiwanese voters elected a new president despite warnings from Beijing and said it would recognize the one-China principle.
In a social media post, the Nauru government said it would “adhere to UN Resolution 2758, which recognizes the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and Taiwan as a territory of China. “, reports Xinhua news agency.
It states that Nauru will no longer develop any official relations or official exchanges with Taiwan.
The post also said that President David Adiang would make a statement in this regard at the next parliament sitting and give a national address on local television and radio channels.
Confirming the development, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said on Twitter: “With deep regret we announce the termination of diplomatic relations with Nauru. This is not only China’s retaliation against our democratic elections but the international order. There is also a direct challenge for.
“Taiwan stands firm and will continue to serve as a force for good.”
Addressing a media conference on Monday, Taiwan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Tien Chung-kwang accused China of taking advantage of recent “political fluctuations” in Nauru to “buy off” the island nation with financial aid.
“China thinks it can suppress Taiwan with such methods, I think it is wrong. The world has seen Taiwan’s democratic development. If (Beijing) uses such despicable methods to seize Taiwan’s diplomatic relations, If it continues to be used, democratic countries around the world will not recognize it,” BBC quoted TN as saying.
Meanwhile, China praised Nauru’s move and said the decision “once again fully demonstrates that the one-China principle is the will of the people and the trend of the times”.
This is not the first time Nauru is breaking ties with Taiwan. In 2002, the island nation made a similar diplomatic switch with China but later restored relations with Taiwan in May 2005.
Nauru’s diplomatic transition leaves only 12 countries that still maintain diplomatic relations with Taipei, including Guatemala, Paraguay and the Marshall Islands.
Voters in Taiwan’s election over the weekend elected pro-sovereignty Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate William Lai as its next president.
China has labeled Lai a “troublemaker” for comments he has made in the past in support of Taiwan independence.
The DPP has been in power in Taiwan for the last eight years.
