The Pacific country of Nauru has severed its nearly 20-year diplomatic relationship with Taiwan in favour of China in the latest struggle for influence in the region.
In statement the Nauru Government said as of Monday it would not recognise Taiwan as a separate country, it would sever diplomatic relations and "no longer develop any official relations or official exchanges with Taiwan".
This was followed by a formal announcement in an address to the nation by David Adeang who was elected president last year.
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said it stands ready to work with Nauru to open new chapters on bilateral relations.
The island nation, which lies 40km south of the equator, is the latest to cut ties with Taiwan following Kiribati and the Solomon Islands switching allegiances to China in 2019.
Taiwan's support in the region has dwindled to just Tuvalu, Marshall Islands and Palau.
There has been ongoing speculation that Tuvalu may also follow suit depending on its general election outcome in 10 days' time.
1News understands Tuvalu has come under increasing pressure from China to ditch Taiwan, which was one of the reasons it signed a controversial security agreement with Australia last year.
The pact allows up to 280 Tuvaluans a year a special pathway to live and work in Australia.
But in exchange any defence or security related arrangement — including building infrastructure like ports — that Tuvalu want to engage in with another country has to be approved by Australia, giving it some power over the island nation's sovereignty.
Nauru's switch to China comes at a time when geopolitical tension in the region is high.
Its own relationship with Beijing has been severely strained in the past.
In 2018 at the Pacific Islands Forum in Nauru, officials refused to stamp entry visas into the Chinese delegation's diplomatic passports. At the same forum, President Baron Waqa accused Chinese officials of being insolent after they tried to interrupt a closed door meeting.
But clearly, as China welcomes Nauru as its newest diplomatic partner, all is forgiven.
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