Taipei, Sept. 20 (CNA) Taiwan on Friday lost its second diplomatic ally in a week, after Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) announced that the country was cutting diplomatic ties with Kiribati as the central Pacific nation has decided to switch allegiance to Beijing.

Taiwan "regrets and strongly condemns" Kiribati for disregarding the years of assistance and friendship extended to them by the Republic of China (Taiwan) government, Wu said at a press conference.

The severing of ties with Kiribati on Friday leaves Taiwan with only 15 diplomatic allies worldwide.

On Monday, Taiwan broke ties with the Solomon Islands after the South Pacific island-nation switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing.

(By Christie Chen and Elaine Hou)
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