Taiwan loses diplomatic ally in Pacific

Taiwan announced it was cutting its official ties with the Solomon Islands on Monday.

Taiwan's so-called foreign minister Joseph Wu made the announcement at a news conference in Taipei, Agence France-Presse reported, saying "the cabinet of the Solomon Islands government decided to switch diplomatic relations" to Beijing.

Taiwan's Central News Agency also reported that the Cabinet of Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare had earlier approved a decision to establish diplomatic ties with Beijing.

Beijing has made it clear that there is only one China in the world, that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a regular news conference on Thursday that commitment to the one-China principle is the right choice that serves the greater good of international relations and meets the trend of the times.

"China is ready to develop friendship and cooperation with all countries based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence," Hua said.

Taiwan now has formal relations with only 16 countries. Before the split with the Solomon Islands, El Salvador, as of August 2018, was the most recent country to sever official ties with Taiwan and establish diplomatic relations with Beijing.