Taiwan Journal舊資料

Minister announces resumption of diplomatic ties with Nauru

• Publication Date：05/20/2005
• By  Meifang Lee

After a hiatus of almost three years, the Republic of China and the Republic of Nauru restored full diplomatic ties, ROC Foreign Minister Chen Tan-sun announced at a press conference May 14 after signing a joint communique with Nauruan President Ludwig Scotty. Diplomatic personnel were immediately dispatched to Yaren, capital of Nauru, to set up an embassy.

        The ROC established diplomatic relations with Nauru May 4, 1980, but relations were severed after Scotty's predecessor Rene Harris switched recognition July 23, 2002 to the People's Republic of China, which reportedly offered the cash-strapped South Pacific nation millions of dollars in financial aid.

        Scotty said that Harris' decision to establish diplomatic ties with China was made in the absence of parliamentary authorization and that he had opposed Harris' decision and sought to resume ties with Taipei after he was elected president. However, Scotty said his country also hopes to maintain diplomatic ties with Beijing concurrent with recognition of Taipei.

        Chen said Taiwan did not want to engage in a zero-sum diplomatic confrontation with China, but pledged to strengthen bilateral exchanges and cooperation in a wide range of fields including education, agriculture, fisheries, tourism, health care and aquaculture.

        "President Scotty was regretful about the mistake made by former Nauruan President Rene Harris to unilaterally sever ties," the minister said.

Home to just around 10,000 people and an island of some 21 square kilometers, Nauru is a member of many international organizations, including the United Nations and the Asian Development Bank. Scotty pledged his country's support for Taiwan's participation in such international organizations.

        After the announcement of the resumption of ties between the two countries, Scotty met with his counterpart, President Chen Shui-bian. Chen praised Nauru for its decision to re-establish ties with Taipei.

        "I believe this is the right decision," Chen said.

        Chen said he had had private talks with Scotty after they met May 1 at a state banquet in the Marshall Islands, but admitted he did not expect the two countries to resume ties so soon. He expressed confidence about the development of ROC-Nauruan bilateral cooperation, saying, "We will join hands to pursue the best welfare for people in the two countries."

         Nauru's resumption of ties with the ROC received cross-party support in the legislature. Democratic Progressive Party lawmaker Lai Ching-teh affirmed the president's visit to the South Pacific last week, saying it was a step forward in defending the country's sovereignty.

        Kuomintang lawmaker Chen Chieh and People First Party lawmaker Chen Chih-pin said they welcomed the re-establishment of diplomatic ties with Nauru, but asked the government not to resort to checkbook diplomacy.

        Nauru's restoration of diplomatic relations with the ROC brought the number of countries that recognize Taipei to 26.