Beijing, Jan 15 (Reporter) Beijing welcomes and highly appreciates Nauru's decision to sever ties with Taiwan and seeks resumption of full diplomatic relations with China, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Monday. Earlier in the day, Nauru's government announced severing diplomatic relations with Taiwan in line with a UN resolution that recognizes China as the sole legal government representing the whole of China. Nauru said it would seek resuming full diplomatic relations with China. "As an independent sovereign country, the Republic of Nauru announces that it recognises the one-China principle, breaks the so-called diplomatic ties with the Taiwan authorities, and is willing to reestablish diplomatic ties with China. China appreciates and welcomes the decision of the government of the Republic of Nauru," the ministry announced in a statement. The ministry added that Nauru's decision demonstrated that "the one-China principle is where global opinion trends and where the arc of history bends." The Taiwanese foreign ministry alleged Nauru's decision was a Chinese plot. "With deep regret, we announce the termination of diplomatic relations with Nauru. This timing is not only China’s retaliation against our democratic elections but also a direct challenge to the international order. Taiwan stands unbowed and will continue as a force for good," the ministry wrote on X. Without Nauru, Taiwan only has 12 diplomatic allies left, including Paraguay, Belize, Guatemala, Haiti, Marshall Islands, Palau, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Eswatini, Tuvalu and Vatican City. Taipei promotes its foreign contacts through economic and cultural representation offices. On Saturday, Taiwan held a general election in which pro-independence candidate Lai Ching-te of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won with 40.05 per cent of the vote to head the island's local administration. The DPP itself, however, lost 11 seats in the island's parliament. Taiwan has been governed independently of mainland China since 1949. Beijing views the island as its province, while Taiwan, a territory with its own elected government, maintains that it is an autonomous country but stops short of declaring independence. Beijing opposes any official contacts of foreign states with Taipei and considers Chinese sovereignty over the island indisputable...////...