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China, Solomon Islands sign agreement to establish diplomatic relations

21 September 2019 17:02 (UTC +04:00)

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi signed an agreement of diplomatic relations with Solomon Islands' Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele at a government guest house in Beijing in front of reporters, APA reports citing Sputnik.

Following Solomon Islands' decision to switch relations from Taiwan to China, the Pacific nation of Kiribati also cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan on 16 September. The latest move leaves Taipei with diplomatic relations with only 15 nations.

China refuses to have diplomatic relations with any nation that recognises the independence of Taiwan, which it sees as a breakaway province.

Over the past year and a half, several countries have severed ties with Taiwan and switched to diplomatic relations with Beijing, including El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Burkina Faso, and Panama.