Elections in Taiwan: Nauru breaks off diplomatic relations with Taiwan

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Reaction of Taiwan's Vice Foreign Minister Tien Chung-kwang: "We demand that Nauru immediately close its embassy in Taiwan"

Photo: Sam Yeh / AFP

Shortly after the election in Taiwan, the East Asian island state and the small Pacific island of Nauru broke off diplomatic relations. The announcement in Taipei came in response to Nauru's announcement that it would recognize the so-called one-China principle instead of Taiwan. Taiwan will therefore immediately break off its cooperation. "We demand that Nauru immediately close its embassy in Taiwan," Vice Foreign Minister Tien Chung-kwang said in Taipei.

Nauru is one of the smallest countries in the world. The island with 11,500 inhabitants is located about 5600 kilometers southeast of Taiwan. The Chinese government welcomed Nauru's rethink. The decision shows "that the one-China principle corresponds to the will of the people and the trend of the times," the foreign ministry in Beijing said.

Twelve states still recognise Taiwan

Taiwan's Vice Foreign Minister Tien, meanwhile, said China had lured Pacific island politicians into making the diplomatic switch by offering Beijing economic support. Taipei also sees the manoeuvre as an attack on Taiwan's democracy. It was only on Saturday that the people of the island republic of more than 23 million people elected Vice President William Lai of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as the future president. In parliament, the party lost its absolute majority.

Lai and the Progressive Party are a thorn in Beijing's side, as they stand for Taiwan independence. This is the third time the party has elected president – a record since 1996. China counts the island as part of its territory, although it has had an independent and democratically elected government for decades. That is why tensions regularly arise in the strait between the great power and the island. Under Lai's predecessor Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan has lost 2016 allies since <>, which instead established diplomatic relations with China. The US, Japan and the EU are considered unofficial partners of Taiwan, they all congratulated Taipei on election night.

After the break with Nauru, Taiwan is now recognized as a sovereign country by twelve states, including the Vatican. Nauru had already broken off diplomatic relations with Taiwan in July 2002. In 2005, however, the island changed its mind again after China failed to keep its promises to support the country.

czl/dpa