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The Republic of Nauru has officially resumed diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China, following its cutting of diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
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Nauru Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Lionel Aingimea met with PRC Chinese Communist Party Central Committee Political Bureau member and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi during a visit to Beijing earlier this week on 24 January.
Both countries signed a joint communiqué on the resumption of diplomatic relations, agreed to resume diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level, and recognise Nauru as the 183rd country to establish diplomatic relations with the PRC.
“We have a Nauruan saying, ‘A drop a day, creates an ocean in a lifetime’. That’s what today signifies, that first drop,” said Minister Aingimea.
“That in our lifetimes, an ocean of strong ties, shared goals of development, peace, security, and beneficial priorities for both countries will be created.
“(Putting words into) that’s a value we admire and therefore we look forward to building an ocean of strong partnerships with the People’s Republic of China, premised on the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality, mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence.
“Nauru appreciates the vision of ‘building a community for a shared future of mankind’ as proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping.”
Minister Aingimea said Nauru welcomes initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilisation Initiative that leave no nation or person behind.
“We believe the cooperation between the two sides will bring new impetus to the sustainable development of Nauru,” he said.
PRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the agreement marks a new chapter in China-Nauru relations.
Although China and Nauru are far apart geographically, the two peoples enjoy a longstanding friendship, he said.
Minister Wang said, as members of the global south, the two countries share the common aspirations to safeguard sovereignty and independence, uphold the common interests of developing countries, and work for an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalisation.
China will treat Nauru as an equal and support Nauru in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions and chosen independently by its people, he said.
The Republic of Nauru previously severed diplomatic ties with the Republic of China (Taiwan) and announced they would recognise the PRC as the sole legal government representing the whole of China, following the January re-election of the Democratic Progressive Party in Taipei.
The decision closely followed the pro-independence DPP and president Lai Ching-te being elected in Taiwan’s general and presidential election on 13 January. It also left Taiwan with only 12 diplomatic allies including the Vatican, Guatemala, Marshall Islands, and Eswatini.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, responding to questions on the change in Nauru diplomacy, said nations are entitled to pick their own alliances.
“Nauru is entitled, as are other sovereign nations, to determine who they recognise, and we of course have a bipartisan one-China policy here in Australia, that is longstanding,” he said during an interview on 22 January.
“We have re-engaged with the Pacific family, we’ve treated them with respect, we want to be the national security partner of choice.
“We’ve seen that with work that we’ve done in the Pacific Island Forum, with the landmark agreement that we set with Tuvalu, with the agreement that we signed right here in December, with Papua New Guinea.
“The Prime Minister James Marape will be the first leader of Papua New Guinea to address the Australian Parliament on February 8, that will be a very significant event, and signifies the importance of those ties with our region.”
