Taiwan's MOFA Strongly Protests Nauru's Executive Order to Adhere to 'One China' Principle

(CNA, Taipei, May 21, by reporter Yang Yao-ju) The Republic of Nauru has issued an executive order requiring its officials to adhere to the "One China Principle." Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) expressed strong protest today, solemnly stating that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is a sovereign country, that the two sides of the strait are not subordinate to each other, and that the Nauruan government's claims, which denigrate and distort Taiwan's sovereign status, are fundamentally flawed. The Nauruan government recently issued an executive order requiring its officials to follow the "One China Principle." An announcement posted on its official government Facebook page on the 20th stated that Nauru resumed diplomatic relations with China in January 2024 based on mutual respect and recognition of the One China Principle, and that any communication with "Taiwan, a province of China" must adhere to the Nauruan government's position. In a press release issued in the evening, MOFA stated that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is a sovereign country with 23 million people and is not subordinate to the People's Republic of China. The People's Republic of China has never ruled Taiwan, and Taiwan is not part of the People's Republic of China. MOFA expressed strong protest and dissatisfaction with the policy recently promulgated by the Nauruan government, which ignores the facts. MOFA pointed out that, as is widely known, UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 only addresses the issue of China's representation and its text does not involve Taiwan, nor does it determine that Taiwan is a part of the People's Republic of China. This is an internationally recognized fact and the objective status quo; therefore, the Nauruan government's claims that denigrate and distort Taiwan's sovereign status are fundamentally flawed. MOFA emphasized that Taiwan has long upheld the principles of mutual respect, transparent cooperation, and shared democratic values in its pursuit of deepening partnerships with Pacific nations. In the future, it will continue to strengthen cooperation on common challenges such as climate change, disaster resilience, sustainable development, and maritime security to jointly promote a free, open, peaceful, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.