President Anote Tong to break off relations with Taiwan and re-affirm his support for the "One China" policy. Only after those three weeks did the PRC sever relations, thereby losing the right to maintain its satellite-tracking base in Kiribati. The Republic of China began providing economic aid to Kiribati, while Kiribati began supporting Taiwan in the United Nations. In 2004, President Tong said he believed the PRC was still trying to exert influence over his country. In September 2019, Kiribati restored the diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China following termination of diplomatic relations with the Republic of China, shortly after the Solomon Islands have done so. On May 15, 2020, the Chinese embassy in Kiribati reopened. See also Sino-Pacific relations#Kiribati Chinese Ambassador to Kiribati References Kiribati Bilateral relations of Kiribati