SYDNEY, Jan 16, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - The tiny South Pacific nation of Nauru
announced Monday it was switching diplomatic ties from Taiwan to China, a
move that bolsters Beijing's ambitions in the region.

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 will "sever diplomatic relations" with Taiwan immediately and "no
longer develop any official relations or official exchanges with Taiwan", the
island state said in a presidential statement.

Following the switch, Taiwan's foreign ministry said it was ending diplomatic
relations with Nauru "to safeguard our national dignity".

Nauru's decision will likely be seen as a major coup for Beijing -- it was
one of the few countries left that officially recognised Taiwan on a
diplomatic basis.

"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."

Beijing welcomed Nauru's switch.

"China appreciates and welcomes the Nauru government's decision," a
spokesperson for Beijing's foreign ministry said.

- Diplomatic 'step change' -

Beijing is "willing to open a new chapter" in ties with Nauru after its
decision to diplomatically recognise only China, the spokesperson said.

Nauru -- population 12,500 -- is one of the world's smallest countries and
lies about 4,000 kilometres (2,500 miles) northeast of Sydney.

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.
 
Nauru's diplomatic move comes two days after voters in Taiwan elected a new
president, Lai Ching-te, who is viewed by China as a dangerous separatist.

Massey University Pacific security expert Anna Powles said China would
benefit by "shrinking Taiwan's diplomatic space".

"Nauru's decision to switch to China wasn't unexpected but it will certainly
reverberate around the Pacific," she told AFP.

Nauru is the latest Pacific country to turn its back on a longstanding
relationship with Taiwan.

In a shock announcement in 2019, Solomon Islands said it would officially
recognise China.

That decision fuelled concern among Western allies that Beijing might seek to
establish an increased military footprint in the strategically important
Pacific region.

Only 12 states, including the Holy See, now fully recognise Taiwan.

In Africa, only Eswatini officially recognises Taiwan, while in Latin
America, seven states have full diplomatic ties with the island, including
Belize, Guatemala, Haiti and Paraguay.

Taiwan temporarily cut its 22-year diplomatic relationship with Nauru in July
2002.

But the two countries patched things up in 2005, when Nauru switched back to
Taiwan.