Relationship dossier
People's Republic of China
Kiribati
Relationship assessment
China and Kiribati have built a recent partnership following the restoration of diplomatic relations in 2019.
People's Republic of China toward Kiribati
+35China restored diplomatic relations with Kiribati in 2019 and has provided development assistance and concluded bilateral agreements with the government.
Kiribati toward People's Republic of China
+35Kiribati restored diplomatic relations with China in 2019 after ending recognition of Taiwan, and its government has pursued closer bilateral cooperation with Beijing.
Overall relationship
+40The relationship has a recent foundation in Kiribati's 2019 recognition switch and subsequent restoration of ties with China. Development assistance and bilateral agreements provide a basis for sustained cooperation, though its depth and implementation remain unclear.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
China and Kiribati restored diplomatic relations in 2019 after Kiribati switched recognition from Taiwan to Beijing. Since then, the governments have developed cooperation through Chinese development assistance and bilateral agreements, and Kiribati has endorsed closer ties with China. The relationship is a substantive but comparatively recent partnership; the scope and implementation of cooperation are not fully clear.
Key developments
Kiribati restored diplomatic relations with China after ending diplomatic recognition of Taiwan.
Kiribati President Taneti Maamau visited China, and the governments announced agreements and closer cooperation.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of Chinese development assistance and bilateral agreements are unclear.
- The extent and continuity of cooperation across specific sectors are uncertain.