Chinese counselor: Nauru's action is a sovereign decision

A Chinese counselor on Wednesday stressed that the Nauruan side made the sovereign decision on its own to sever its "diplomatic relationship" with the Taiwan region and expressed its willingness to resume diplomatic relations with the Chinese side.

Since China-Nauru relations had experienced some setbacks and difficulties, the Chinese side had approached the resumption of diplomatic relations with great seriousness and earnestness, as well as with great caution, Wang Xuguang, chief of the Chinese team charged with the task of reopening the Chinese Embassy in Nauru, pointed out in an interview with the China Media Group (CMG).

The Chinese side has repeatedly made it clear to the Nauruan side that it has expectations but also patience in developing China-Nauru relations, Wang noted.

He added that China hopes that the Nauruan side will be as cautious as the Chinese side in dealing with the important decision to resume diplomatic relations.

Regarding the concern about whether Nauru will "swing" again as before, Wang said that during the negotiation process, the Nauru side has repeatedly emphasized that the proposal of resumption of diplomatic relations is based on the full assessment and consideration of the international situation and China-Nauru relations, especially seeing the sincere help and visible effects that major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics has brought to developing countries.

He believes that, as Nauru's president has said, the decision was made with an eye to the historical situation and that it is a decision made by the government of Nauru after careful consideration, which means that it is a solemn political commitment that will not be easily changed.

The counselor also emphasized that there is no direct link between the resumption of diplomatic relations between China and Nauru and the elections in the Taiwan region.

Wang told the CMG that the first and foremost task of his team now is to carry out in an orderly manner the preparatory work for the official resumption of the embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Nauru, in accordance with domestic requirements.

During the process of resumption, it is also necessary to promote the smooth start of China-Nauru relations, strengthen bilateral exchanges, enhance bilateral political mutual trust and promote practical cooperation in various fields between the two sides in accordance with domestic requirements, all of which are already underway, he added.

Wang also voiced hope for the future development of China-Nauru relations, saying it is not only because of the sincerity of the two sides in the development of the relationship but also because of the two countries' complementary strengths, which make the two sides natural partners.

Wang concluded the interview by saying that China had already established diplomatic relations with 10 Pacific Island countries, Nauru being the 11th, and "I believe that Nauru will definitely not be the last one."

(Cover: Chinese Counsellor Wang Xuguang, also chief of the Chinese team charged with the task of reopening the Chinese Embassy, meets Nauru's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Lionel Aingimea in Nauru, January 24, 2024. /CMG)