Australia’s Minister for Pacific Affairs Pat Conroy on Tuesday (16/1) said his country’s government respected Nauru’s decision to switch its diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China, a move that reduces Taiwan’s number of diplomatic allies to 12 countries worldwide.
“This is the decision of the sovereign nation of Nauru and we respect their decision. I would like to emphasize that three members of the Pacific Islands Forum recognize Taiwan, 13 members recognize the People’s Republic of China, including Australia. We have very good relations with every Pacific Island country, including those that recognize “China. So we respect Nauru’s decision. What you saw under Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor government was a significant improvement in our relations with the Pacific,” said Conro.
Conroy also said the Australian government had been informed in advance of the decision but had not discussed the issue.
The Nauru government on Monday (15/1) issued a statement regarding severing its relations with Taiwan and wanting to start relations with China. The policy is a significant first step in advancing Nauru’s development, the statement continued.
China claims self-ruled Taiwan as its territory and has led Taiwan’s diplomatic allies to sever ties, often by promising development aid. China says Taiwan has no right to establish relations between countries, a position Taiwan strongly rejects.
China welcomed Nauru’s move to sever “so-called diplomatic relations” with Taiwan.
Meanwhile, the US official who heads the body that handles informal relations with Taiwan on the same day condemned Nauru’s decision as “disappointing”.
Laura Rosenberger, chair of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), said, “It is disappointing to see the distorted narrative regarding UN Resolution 2758 being used as a tool to pressure Taiwan, limiting its voice on the international stage and affecting its diplomatic relations.”
According to Resolution 2758 passed in 1971 which was used as a reason for Nauru to transfer its diplomatic recognition, the Beijing government took over Taipei’s position in China’s seat at the UN.
Rosenberger also told reporters in Taipei that promises from China in exchange for diplomatic ties were often ‘not fulfilled.’
The Pacific, where the tiny nation of Nauru is located, is a source of fierce competition for influence between Washington, which considers the region its ‘backyard’, and Beijing, which has its eyes on Taiwan’s diplomatic allies there.
Taiwan now has official relations with 11 countries and the Vatican. Eleven countries are in Latin America and the Caribbean, three in the Pacific Islands and one in Africa. (uh/ab)