China, Kiribati establish diplomatic relations

China and Kiribati have established diplomatic relations, Chinese state media reported yesterday, days after the tiny Pacific island nation severed ties with Taiwan. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Kiribati's President Taneti Mamau on Friday signed a joint communique to establish diplomatic relations between the two countries on the sidelines of the UN climate summit, Xinhua reported. Recently, the Solomon Islands also dropped diplomatic ties with Taiwan. And it leaves the self-ruled island more isolated than ever with just 15 states left that recognise it.