The Washington Post-Taiwan loses another diplomatic ally as Nauru recognizes China
January 15, 2024 2 min 353 words
这是一个令人震惊的外交动态。努鲁宣布与台湾断交并与中国建交，使台湾的外交盟友降至不到十个。努鲁政府声称这一决定符合国家最佳利益。此消息突然发布，刚刚经历历史性选举胜利的台湾民进党第三次上台。北京则在全球范围内继续施压，削减承认台湾的国家数量。台湾外交部副部长田中光表示，中国通过各种手段向台湾施加压力，使用金钱外交，努鲁近年来一直在向台湾索要巨额经济援助。这次裁决再次证明，中国正在全球范围内成功地夺取承认台湾的国家。面对国际舞台上的困境，台湾亟需巧妙的外交策略。
2024-01-15T06:39:47.946Z
The Pacific island nation of Nauru announced on Monday it was severing diplomatic ties with Taiwan and instead recognizing China.
The diplomatic switch shocked analysts and shaved Taiwan’s diplomatic allies down to less 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.
The surprise announcement came just two days after a historic election delivered Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party an unprecedented third term in office.
Beijing, which has never ruled Taiwan, claims the island democracy as part of its territory. Xi Jinping, China’s strongest leader in decades, has insisted Beijing’s rule there is “inevitable.”
The announcement by Nauru marks another win for Beijing in its global pressure campaign to poach the remaining countries that recognize Taiwan.
“China is suppressing us and using money diplomacy in every possible way,” Tien Chung-kwang, Taiwan’s deputy foreign minister, said at a news conference on Monday afternoon.
“No matter what the election result is, China is always trying to suffocate Taiwan in any international arena,” said Tien.
Nauru had asked for a “huge amount” of economic assistance from Taiwan in recent years, said Tien.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs received notice of Nauru’s plans to cut ties just before noon on Monday, he said.
Nauru previously dropped Taipei for Beijing from 2002 to 2005. Taiwanese officials said China had offered Nauru millions of dollars in aid that Taipei had not been willing to escalate into a bidding war to match.