Taiwan condemns China for dollar diplomacy after losing Nauru

Taiwan condemns China for dollar diplomacy after losing Nauru

2024-01-16

The foreign ministry says China once again used “dollar diplomacy” to poach a diplomatic ally. The remarks come after the Pacific nation of Nauru switched ties from Taipei to Beijing. According to a deputy foreign minister, Nauru broke ties after China offered a significant amount of financial aid. Experts say China made a move on Nauru to put pressure on Taiwan’s new president-elect.

The island nation of Nauru severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan on Monday. Nauru had reportedly asked Taiwan for aid amounting to NT$2.6 billion. While Taiwan was still seeking a solution, Nauru broke off ties.

Jeff Liu
Foreign ministry spokesperson
Nauru’s financial problems had it weighing monetary offers from us and from China. But after China lured it with the offer of a large amount of economic assistance, Nauru decided to break off diplomatic ties with us. China is using dollar diplomacy to erode Taiwan’s international space, and it took action just two days after Taiwan held democratic elections. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs most severely condemns China’s meddling and manipulation.

The foreign ministry did not confirm reports that Nauru wanted NT$2.6 billion. But it made clear that money was at the heart of Nauru’s decision.

On Jan. 13, after the election results were announced, Nauru issue a congratulatory message to winner Lai Ching-te, only to cut ties two days later. According to deputy foreign minister Tien Chung-kwang, Nauru may have sent the message to cover up its plans to break ties. Before 2019, Taiwan had six diplomatic allies in Oceania: the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Nauru, the Marshall Islands and Palau. In 2019, China poached the Solomon Islands and then Kiribati. Now in 2024, it’s won over Nauru. Of Taiwan’s remaining allies, the Marshall Islands and Palau have defense agreements with the U.S. Former ally Nauru is important to the U.S., due to its location along the strategic second island chain. Its switch of allegiance from Taipei to Beijing is seen as a major coup for Beijing. Experts say that China aimed to send a message to Taiwan’s president-elect, to pressure him on cross-strait policy.

Jeff Liu
Foreign ministry spokesman
While the whole world was congratulating Taiwan on the election and the victory of democracy, Beijing chose to use these means to suppress our international presence. This is an act of retaliation against democratic values.

Taiwan currently has 15 personnel in Nauru, including interns, technical staff and conscripts on alternative military service. They will be repatriated according to international conventions.

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諾魯突襲式斷交! 傳"索討經援26億"成壓垮台諾關係最後稻草

2024-01-16

我太平洋友邦諾魯，突襲式宣布與我國斷交，正逢台灣剛結束大選，時間點敏感，外界分析這是中國在向賴清德施壓，逼迫他在兩岸政策上讓步，外交部發言人劉永健強調，北京選在此時打壓我們，是對"民主價值的報復"，更有涉外人士透露，諾魯向我方要求高達26億的金援，成壓垮雙邊關係的最後一根稻草。

我國太平洋友邦諾魯，無預警宣布與我國斷交，傳出對方獅子大開口，涉外人士透露，諾魯向台灣求助26億財政缺口，我方還在找解決方案，對方就突襲式、宣布斷交。

[[外交部發言人劉永健]]
“由於諾魯自身的財政問題，在我國與中國之間進行比價，在中國提出巨額的經濟援助的利誘之下，諾魯選擇與我斷交，對於中國操作金錢外交，打壓我國國際空間，並選在我國成功完成民主選舉之後的兩天出手，外交部對於中國的介入與操作，予以最嚴厲的譴責”

有沒有26億？外交部沒正面回應，但顯然天價金援，成壓垮台諾關係最後一根稻草。

明明13號台灣選舉結果公布當天，諾魯還發"賀函"，沒想到兩天後就宣布斷交，外交部次長田中光認為賀電可能是"煙霧彈。台灣原先在太平洋共有六個友邦，包括索羅門群島、吐瓦魯、吉里巴斯、諾魯、馬紹爾群島和帛琉，2019中國先斷索羅門群島、再斷吉里巴斯、2024再斷諾魯，其中馬紹爾群島、帛琉都是美方勢力、向來有美軍協防，且諾魯位在第二島鏈，是中美地緣衝突新前線。台諾斷交、中方勢力再推進，更有學者分析，中國在我方選後兩天就邦交國，是在向賴清德施壓、逼迫我方，兩岸政策上讓步？

[[外交部發言人劉永健]]
“就在全世界恭賀台灣成功舉行大選的時候，民主勝利的時間，北京選擇用這種方式，來打壓我國際空間，這是對民主價值的報復”

目前我國在諾魯包含實習生、技術團及替代役共15人，將遵循國際慣例、照時程離開。

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