Recently, Nauru terminated its diplomatic ties with Taiwan and switched to recognizing China, a development that has raised eyebrows given the historically strong ties between Taiwan and Nauru.
It no longer acknowledges Taiwan as a sovereign state, but rather considers it an integral part of China, the Nauruan government said in a formal statement.
The foreign policy stance adopted by Nauru poses a significant cause for concern within the realm of Taiwan’s international relations.
It is evident that over the years, there has been a gradual decline in the number of nations that recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state. Today, just 12 countries have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, down from 22 in 2016.
Seven nations in Latin America and the Caribbean — Belize, Guatemala, Paraguay, Haiti, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines — maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan. In the South Pacific region, only three countries — the Marshall Islands, Palau and Tuvalu — uphold formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. In Africa, only Eswatini formally recognizes Taiwan, while in Europe, the Vatican stands as the sole country that formally recognizes Taiwan.
The South Pacific holds significant importance as a focal point of concern due to China’s extensive implementation of persuasion strategies within this area. Notably, China is the third-largest financial contributor in the region, following Australia and the US, by offering substantial aid packages aimed at bolstering trade, infrastructure development, governmental and military capabilities and natural resource exploitation.
An intriguing aspect of China’s engagement in the South Pacific region lies in its provision of non-binding assistance with lenient conditions. This approach holds particular appeal for countries in the region, given their relatively low national incomes.
For nations that previously recognized Taiwan, the allure of China’s persuasive tactics through non-binding aid with flexible terms presented a formidable challenge to resist.
Following its initial allegiance to Taiwan, Nauru transitioned its recognition to China.
This development prompts the question: How should Taiwan respond?
Taiwan must escalate its diplomatic efforts by engaging in extensive dialogues with countries that remain supportive of Taiwan. This concerted dialogue could manifest in the organization of high-level ministerial conferences geared towards fostering mutually beneficial cooperation between the involved parties.
It is imperative for Taiwan to expeditiously take action to garner international backing, as the gradual shift of countries’ formal recognition away from Taiwan harms the nation’s interests and international visibility. This underscores the critical necessity for Taiwan’s political leadership to proactively address this pressing concern.
Sustaining the “status quo,” wherein Taiwan is acknowledged as an independent entity, entails significant resource allocation across military, economic and political spheres.
The most prudent course of action for Taiwan appears to be the cultivation of strong ties with the US, its strategic ally, to help the nation navigate the burgeoning impact of China’s influence on Taiwan’s sovereignty. Taiwan should also fortify its military capabilities to deter any unforeseen actions by China.
M. Syaprin Zahidi is a senior lecturer in the Department of International Relations at the University of Muhammadiyah Malang and is a doctoral student at Ghazali Shafie Graduate School of Government at the Universiti Utara Malaysia.
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