Taipei, Oct. 30 (CNA) Taiwan on Monday congratulated David Adeang after the senior Nauru parliamentarian was elected the new president of its Pacific ally earlier in the day, following a vote of no confidence that ousted President Russ Joseph Kun on Oct. 25.
In a press statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) extended congratulations to Adeang on behalf of Taiwan and its people, after the longest serving parliament member was elected Nauru’s new leader, securing 10 votes, while rival candidate Delvin Thoma received eight.
Adeang served as speaker of Nauru’s Parliament in 2004 and 2008 and held a number of cabinet portfolios including minister assisting the president as well as minister of finance and minister of justice.
According to MOFA, Adeang has visited Taiwan several times and also accompanied former Nauru President Ludwig Scotty for a visit to Taipei in 2005 when the latter signed an agreement to re-establish diplomatic relations between the two countries.
MOFA said on Monday that it will continue to work closely with the new Nauru government and enhance bilateral cooperation on various fronts, based on decades of cooperation.
The election of a new president took place after a vote of no confidence was proposed and passed last Wednesday against Kun, who became president in September 2022.
According to a Facebook post by Nauru government on Monday, voting for a new president was deadlocked from Wednesday, until a sitting of Parliament on Monday morning when Kun said the impasse had gone on long enough, and he nominated Adeang for president in the second round of nominations, giving him an extra vote.
The Nauru government post did not explain why a vote of no confidence was initiated against Kun.
Kun led a delegation to Taiwan from Oct. 8-12. In addition to participating in the Oct. 10 National Day celebrations, he also attended the seventh Taipei-based Yushan Forum and delivered an opening speech.
Taiwan, officially named the Republic of China (ROC), first established diplomatic relations with Nauru in 1980 before the Pacific island cut ties with Taipei and recognized the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in July 2002.
In May 2005, the ROC and Nauru re-established diplomatic relations and opened embassies in each other’s capitals, under then President Scotty. The PRC consequently severed its relations with Nauru.
