The leader of Nauru has spoken to NHK about why the Southern Pacific island nation recently severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favor of China.
President David Adeang was in Tokyo to attend the Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting, hosted by Japan every three years.
Nauru established diplomatic relations with China in January and severed ties with Taiwan. The Solomon Islands and Kiribati, also Pacific island nations, did the same in 2019.
Speaking on Friday, Adeang said, "We are confident that we will be on the right side of history for partnering with China at this time."
He went on to say China's economy can't be ignored, and that the country has a lot of technology to support the development of small island nations.
Nauru has a population of just over 12,000.
Adeang said a port reconstruction project led by China and supported by the Asian Development Bank is expected to be completed no later than the middle of next year.
He said Nauru's infrastructure needs improving, and described the plan as a "very exciting, transformational project for the people."