Context: The tiny South Pacific nation of Nauru announced it was switching diplomatic ties from Taiwan to China, a move that bolsters Beijing’s ambitions in the region. The Nauru government said it would no longer recognize Taiwan “as a separate country” but “rather as an inalienable part of China’s territory”.
About Nauru
- Nauru is a 21 sq km oval-shaped island in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, south of Equator.
- Nauru (formerly known as Pleasant Island), is an island country and microstate in Micronesia, part of Oceania in the Central Pacific.
- Nauru is the third-smallest country in the world, larger than only Vatican City and Monaco, making it the smallest republic and island nation.
- Its population of about 10,800 is the world's third smallest (not including colonies or overseas territories) larger than only Vatican City and Tuvalu.
- The plateau is largely composed of rock phosphate, leached from guano, or bird droppings.
Economy of Nauru
- Phosphate has been mined in Nauru since 1907. For decades it was Nauru’s main resource and sole export, dominating the island’s economy, and its quality was the highest in the world.
- Agriculture, fishing, manufacturing, and tourism are of minor value to the overall economy.
- The sale of commercial fishing licenses began to bring in a steady revenue during the 1990s.
- As one consequence of its colonial history, Nauru is within the Australian monetary system, and Australian currency is the country’s legal tender.
Polity of Nauru
- It got its independence in 1967. In 1999 Nauru became a full member of both the Commonwealth and the United Nations.
- Nauru is a republic with a parliamentary system of government.
Society of Nauru
- Most of the island’s residents are indigenous Nauruans.
- There are small numbers of I-Kiribati (Gilbertese), Australians, New Zealanders, Chinese, and Tuvaluans population.
- Nauruan is the national language.