TAIPEI: Taiwan severed ties with the Solomon Islands on Monday after learning the Pacific nation was switching diplomatic recognition to China, as Taipei accused Beijing of using"dollar diplomacy" to buy off its few remaining allies.
Sogavare, who governs through a coalition after an April election, had been under intense pressure from parliamentary colleagues who saw little benefit in staying with the shrinking band of nations that officially recognise Taipei. Over the decades, as China's economic and military power has grown, most countries, including the United States and most Western nations, switched recognition to Beijing.
Responding to the break with the Solomons, Tsai accused China of"sapping Taiwan's morale and the people's will by cutting our diplomatic countries and other suppression".