Nauru will retain long-standing ties with Taiwan, Nauruan President Lionel Aingimea said yesterday, a welcome boost for Taipei after two Pacific states switched diplomatic recognition to China this month.
The small developing nations lie in strategic Pacific waters dominated by the US and its allies since World War II, where Beijing’s moves to expand its influence have angered Washington.
“Nauru considers its relationship with Taiwan as that of family and we stand with Taiwan,” Aingimea said in an e-mail, dispelling fears of a switch after he defeated his predecessor, Baron Waqa, in last month’s election.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
Taiwan cut diplomatic ties with the Solomon Islands and Kiribati on Monday and Friday last week respectively after they switched allegiance to Beijing.
That leaves Taiwan with 15 diplomatic allies — many of which are small, less developed nations in Central America and the Pacific, including Belize and Nauru.
Seven nations have dropped Taiwan as a diplomatic ally since 2016, though the support of Nauru should stem the tide, at least for now.
“The former president of Nauru was famous for being the best friend of Taiwan, going as far as to serenade the president of Taiwan with You’re My Best Friend,” said Jonathan Pryke of Australia’s Lowy Institute think tank.
“The new president was a wild card,” he said. “This announcement means Taiwan can take a breath, but it is clear that they need to be very diligent in the Pacific.”
In related news, the Marshallese legislature has passed a unanimous resolution to give firm support to its diplomatic alliance with Taiwan, Marshallese President Hilda Heine told President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Wednesday.
Heine telephoned Tsai to tell her about the resolution — passed on Sept. 17 — that her country would firmly support the Taiwan-Marshall Islands diplomatic alliance and Taiwan’s right to have fair access to international activities, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Joanne Ou (歐江安) said.
Heine also reiterated her government’s determination to maintain the friendship, said Ou, who conveyed the ministry’s thanks to the Marshallese president and legislature for their support and friendship.
Taiwan will continue to deepen its cooperation with the central Pacific nation, Ou added.
Chinese spouse and influencer Guan Guan’s (關關) residency permit has been revoked for repeatedly posting pro-China videos that threaten national security, the National Immigration Agency confirmed today. Guan Guan has said many controversial statements in her videos posted to Douyin (抖音), including “the red flag will soon be painted all over Taiwan” and “Taiwan is an inseparable part of China,” and expressing hope for expedited reunification. The agency last year received multiple reports alleging that Guan Guan had advocated for armed reunification. After verifying the reports, the agency last month issued a notice requiring her to appear and explain her actions. Guan
GIVE AND TAKE: Blood demand continues to rise each year, while fewer young donors are available due to the nation’s falling birthrate, a doctor said Blood donors can redeem points earned from donations to obtain limited edition Formosan black bear travel mugs, the Kaohsiung Blood Center said yesterday, as it announced a goal of stocking 20,000 units of blood prior to the Lunar New Year. The last month of the lunar year is National Blood Donation Month, when local centers seek to stockpile blood for use during the Lunar New Year holiday. The blood demand in southern Taiwan — including Tainan and Kaohsiung, as well as Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Taitung counties — is about 2,000 units per day, the center said. The donation campaign aims to boost
The Kaohsiung Tourism Bureau audited six hotels in an effort to prevent price gouging ahead of Korean band BTS’ concert tour in the city scheduled for Nov. 19, 21 and 22 this year. The bureau on Friday said that the audits — conducted in response to allegations of unfair pricing posted on social media — found no wrongdoing. These establishments included the local branches of Chateau de Chine, Hotel Nikko, My Humble House, and Grand Hai Lai, it said, adding that the Consumer Protection Commission would have penalized price gougers had the accusations been substantiated. The bureau said the Tourism Development Act
BACK TO WINTER: A strong continental cold air mass would move south on Tuesday next week, bringing colder temperatures to northern and central Taiwan A tropical depression east of the Philippines could soon be upgraded to be the first tropical storm of this year, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, adding that the next cold air mass is forecast to arrive on Monday next week. CWA forecaster Cheng Jie-ren (鄭傑仁) said the first tropical depression of this year is over waters east of the Philippines, about 1,867km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), and could strengthen into Tropical Storm Nokaen by early today. The system is moving slowly from northwest to north, and is expected to remain east of the Philippines with little chance of affecting Taiwan,
RSS