One of Taiwan’s last diplomatic allies severed relations with the island and switched its alliance to China, after the global chip hub elected a new leader Beijing views as "separatist.”
The government of Nauru, a tiny Pacific Island of 13,000 people, announced it will cut "diplomatic relations with Taiwan as of this day,” in a statement posted to its official Facebook page on Monday. It also vowed to stop developing "official exchanges with Taiwan.”
"This is retaliation for democratic values and a blatant challenge to the international order,” Taiwanese Deputy Foreign Minister Tien Chung-kwang said at briefing in Taipei, adding that the self-ruled island was also officially cutting ties.