Nauru’s President David Adeang announced on Monday that he would sever diplomatic relations with Taiwan and recognize China. Adeang announced the decision in a national address posted on his official Facebook account and in a statement to the media, saying that Nauru no longer recognizes Taiwan as an independent country but as an integral part of China's territory.
The statement added that Nauru will no longer develop any official relations or official exchanges with Taiwan. However, this is not the first time Nauru has severed diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Ties were cut in 2002 in favor of China, but diplomatic relations were restored in 2005.
In response, the Taiwan government has announced the immediate termination of ties. Deputy Foreign Minister Tien Chung-kwang (田中光) said in a press release on Monday afternoon that, “In order to safeguard national sovereignty and dignity, Taiwan has decided to terminate diplomatic relations with Nauru effective immediately as well as comprehensively cease bilateral cooperation plans, withdraw our embassy staff and technical mission personnel, and request that Nauru close its embassy in Taiwan.”
With Nauru’s departure, Taiwan is now left with 12 diplomatic allied countries.