Republic of Kiribati severs 'diplomatic ties' with Taiwan

The Republic of Kiribati on Friday severed so-called "diplomatic relations" with Taiwan, the second country to do so in less than a week after the Solomon Islands government voted on a similar move on Monday.

A view of Kiribati [File photo: IC]

Taiwan's remaining "diplomatic allies" have now shrunk to 15.

Kiribati in the central Pacific Ocean consists of 32 atolls and reef islands and one raised coral island, Banaba.

Kiribati is the seventh country to cut off its "diplomatic ties" with Taiwan since leader Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016, following Burkina Faso, the Dominican Republic, São Tomé and Príncipe, Panama, El Salvador and the Solomon Islands.