Relationship dossier
Kiribati
Taiwan
Relationship assessment
A long-standing diplomatic relationship ended when Kiribati switched recognition to Beijing in 2019.
Kiribati toward Taiwan
-35Kiribati maintained diplomatic relations with Taiwan before switching recognition to the People’s Republic of China in 2019, thereby ending official ties with Taiwan.
Taiwan toward Kiribati
+5While Kiribati recognized Taiwan, Taiwan maintained diplomatic cooperation and provided development assistance. Taiwan ended official relations after Kiribati switched recognition in 2019.
Overall relationship
-15The relationship was shaped by years of diplomatic engagement and Taiwan’s development assistance, followed by Kiribati’s 2019 recognition switch and the resulting end of formal ties. This rupture outweighs the earlier cooperation in the present bilateral structure.
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
Kiribati maintained diplomatic relations with Taiwan before switching recognition to the People’s Republic of China in 2019, ending official ties with Taiwan. During the period of relations, Taiwan provided development assistance and maintained diplomatic cooperation with Kiribati. The recognition change was a major rupture, and the relationship has not returned to formal diplomatic engagement.
Areas of tension
- Kiribati’s 2019 switch of diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to the People’s Republic of China, which ended official Taiwan–Kiribati relations.
Key developments
Kiribati established diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
Kiribati switched diplomatic recognition to the People’s Republic of China, ending official relations with Taiwan.
Major uncertainties
- The extent and terms of Taiwan’s development assistance to Kiribati are unclear.
- The scope of any informal contact or cooperation following the 2019 diplomatic break is unclear.