Key Points
- Australia "respects" Nauru's decision to move to a one-China policy.
- Pacific Minister Pat Conroy says Australia respects Nauru's decision.
- China welcomed the severing of diplomatic ties between Nauru and Taiwan.
Australia has backed Nauru's decision to move to a one-China policy which ended its recognition of Taiwan as a separate country.
Pacific Minister Pat Conroy says Canberra wasn't surprised by the announcement but wouldn't say when the government was told.
"I can be very clear that we were aware in advance of the announcement," he told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday.
"We respect their decision."
The prior warning showed the Albanese government's increased engagement with Pacific nations was bearing fruit, he said.
But Taiwan said it was given no such notice. The self-governing island's foreign minister, Tien Chung-kwang, said on Monday that news of the break had come suddenly and labelled the move "ambush-like".
Canberra supported the sovereign decision made by the Nauru government, Conroy added added, pointing to Australia maintaining strong relationships with all Pacific Island Forum members, including three that recognise Taiwan.
Thirteen members, including Australia, recognise the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government.
The minister's comments came after Australia was caught off-guard when the Solomon Islands entered a policing agreement with China last July.
Nauru cutting Taiwan ties 'doesn't shift power balance'
Nauru changing its diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing might be a symbolic blow, but it doesn't materially change the security environment in the region, according to one expert.
The swap is part of a historical trend whereby Beijing viciously pursues diplomatic ties with the handful of nations that still recognise Taiwan following democracy party victories, China expert Ben Herscovitch said.
"It seems to be part of that comment trend, historically speaking, when we have Democratic Progressive Party presidents, Taiwan has lost more of its diplomatic partners," he told the Australian Associated Press.
"Symbolically it matters to Taiwan and it looks like a win for Beijing but in practical terms, it's not obvious it undermines Taiwan's de-facto independence in a material way."
China's foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Nauru's move showed the one-China principle is where global opinion trends. Source: EPA / Mark R. Cristino
"This change is in no way intended to affect our existing warm relationships with other countries," the statement said.
"Our government remains focused on moving Nauru forward and this policy change is a significant first step in moving forward with Nauru's development."
Beijing welcomed Nauru's decision, reiterating Taiwan was an "inalienable part of China's territory".
"The Nauru government's decision of re-establishing diplomatic ties with China once again shows that the one-China principle is where global opinion trends and where the arc of history bends," foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said.
"China stands ready to work with Nauru to open new chapters of our bilateral relations on the basis of the one-China principle."
The announcement comes just days after Taiwanese voters elected the pro-democracy party for a historic third term.
Taipei's representative in Australia Douglas Hsu said the election result confirmed that people wanted democracy over authoritarianism.
