Taiwan's president-elect Lai Ching-te on Monday hailed the island's "solid partnership" with the United States as he welcomed a delegation from Washington making a post-election visit expected to anger Beijing. But in a blow to Taipei, the tiny South Pacific nation of Nauru announced it was severing diplomatic ties with Taiwan and would instead recognise China.
The surprise move by Nauru – one of the few countries that officially recognised Taiwan on a diplomatic basis – came just two days after Lai won a high-stakes election that was closely watched by China.
