The tiny Pacific island nation of Nauru has switched from recognition of Taiwan to the People’s Republic of China, causing mass excitement in a communist country where few could point the island nation out on a map.
Yet before everyone gets too excited, the Republic of Nauru is not only prone to political switches but also not all that strategically important.
A Brief History of Nauru
Originally settled thousands of years ago it was eventually colonized by Germany after they had introduced guns and alcohol, causing one of the most bloody civil wars in history.
British and Australian rule followed, which also coincided with the nation being made almost unlivable due to over mining of phosphates. It then became independent as well as the richest country on the world, before said money was not just squandered, but the state had to find new and more inventive ways to find income.
From Tax Havens to a Detention Centre
Desperately needing money the republic briefly became a tax haven, before links to Al Qaida made the Australians tell them to stop. Instead Australia offered them the chance to house their refugees which led to an almost 30 year influx of money, sometimes tempered by various political issues within Australia.
During this time the country also became more internationally assertive, recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia after Russia had given $50 million in aid, of course nonrelated.
Now though with the country again not hosting refugees the pseudo-communist state is again looking for a big brother, which might help explain the Chinese entry.
Nauru Switch Recognition from Taiwan to People’s Republic of China
While Taiwan remains the Big Kahuna in the Pacific, the Chinese have slowly, but surely been making inroads. This has included gaining recognition from both Kiribati and the Solomon Islands. Although with the later open bribery was reported.
Nauru is to an extent a tad more complicated. This is the second time Nauru has severed diplomatic relations with Taiwan. The Pacific Island country first cut ties in 2002, followed by a resumption in 2005.
Rumors of offers of economic help from China should of course be taken as they are, completely true, for Nauru is a state that has ways and will always need a sponsor. That Australia has led China to swoop in on its watch, as it did in the Solomon Islands is unlikely to go unnoticed by US overlords.