Nauru, a tiny Pacific island nation, just made a big diplomatic splash! 🌊 On January 16, its parliament voted to restore full diplomatic relations with China—a move celebrated by Beijing as a win for the one-China principle. The timing is 💥: it comes days after Taiwan’s elections, where Lai Ching-te of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) secured victory.
China’s Foreign Ministry called Nauru’s decision a reflection of the 'global consensus' that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China. Only 12 regions and countries now maintain ties with Taiwan—a historic low as Nauru becomes the 10th to cut ties under Tsai Ing-wen’s leadership. Taiwan’s authorities slammed the move, accusing Nauru of demanding 'substantial economic aid' before severing relations. 🔌 Spoiler: Taiwan’s now halted all bilateral projects with Nauru.
Meanwhile, the Kuomintang (KMT) party—which historically favors closer cross-strait ties—blamed the DPP’s pro-independence stance for the island’s shrinking global footprint. 'The writing’s on the wall,' analysts say. With China’s growing clout, more nations may follow Nauru’s lead. 🌍✨
