Deep in the Pacific Ocean, an island country almost to be "drunk" by sea water, after struggling for years on the edge of life and death, finally tried to look back for help from China, but the problem is, at first it itself closed this door.
Will China take up this "comeback"? In the face of crisis, will this diplomatic reversal end up in a "waking up dream" or a "dark willows and bright flowers"?
The curse of misjudgment
Kiribati, this little country almost forgotten by the world, the area is not as large as a medium-sized city, the population is less than 100,000, but because of the unique geographical location, once became a "champagne" in international games.
It crosses the equator, spread across the Pacific Ocean, and consists of 33 coral reefs, with an average sea altitude of only 2 meters, with sea water rising a little every year, and its land is a little less.
Just at this critical moment of "standing on the water", the president of Kiribati at the time, Toniano, however, took a path that seemed to be high in reality, he has Chinese ancestry, logically understands the importance of China.
However, after taking office in 2003, he abandoned the establishment of diplomatic relations with China, and also shut down China's satellite monitoring station in Kiribati, this operation is equivalent to shutting the face directly in front of China.
On the surface, it was a "sovereign independent" diplomatic choice, but in reality it triggered a chain reaction. After China's evacuation, this island country, which originally relied on foreign aid and fisheries to maintain its economy, quickly slipped into isolation.
There was little international response, and the economy was even worse. Fishery exports declined, foreign investment was indifferent, and finances were tight. To make matters worse, as global climate change intensifies and sea levels rise year after year, Kiribati's cultivated land becomes salinized, making it almost impossible to be self-sufficient in food.
For this country, diplomacy is not a face-to-face project, but a tool for survival, and the "broken-up" operation, not only did not bring more help, but instead broke its own plate.
There is no way to seek help
The crisis has intensified year by year. Tarawa, the capital of Kiribati, has repeatedly flooded some urban areas due to strong tides, and residents have been forced to relocate.
Scientists bluntly say that at the current rate of sea level rise, Kiribati may no longer be suitable for human habitation by the middle of this century, and this country may "disappear" from the map.
Seeing that the situation got out of control, Tang Annuo's government began to ask for help everywhere.
He ran to New Zealand, hoping to receive a portion of the inhabitants of Kiribati, the other said it was not a “security issue”; he knocked on the door of Australia, Australia was willing to provide technical assistance, not talking about the immigration program; he tried to work with the United States, the United States provided only coastal surveillance data, with no substantial assistance.
Cornered, he finally thought of China. He submitted a letter for help through informal diplomatic channels, asking China to provide assistance such as seawall construction technology and fresh water equipment.
Unfortunately, at this time, he realized that diplomacy was not a light switch, it was shut down, it was opened. The Chinese response was very calm, did not deny the possibility of cooperation, but did not show any enthusiasm, after all, everyone remembered your gesture of "turning back" at the time.
Diplomatic relations and trust are not a deal, not a temporary deal.Tonano's request for help has been his last struggle during his term, but it hasn't changed the imaginary "return of mind."
Then in the following general elections, Toniano, who was unable to solve the trouble in Kiribati, lost a clear draw, with the unwanted desire to dim down.
Return to Route.
After Toniano’s departure, Kiribati welcomed the new president Mamo. Unlike his predecessor, Mamo’s team was more pragmatic and more alert.
They re-evaluated the gains and losses of the previous "diplomatic turn" and found that the so-called "new friends" did not bring substantial benefits, but instead isolated the country. As a result, a low-key but far-reaching diplomatic repair operation quietly launched.
The Ma Mao government secretly sent a delegation to Beijing to start cooperation consultations. China's attitude turned positive, but it was not in a hurry to "make up as before". After all, cooperation required the re-establishment of trust.
It took the two sides a whole year to work in and negotiate three core cooperation directions: coastal protection, climate technology support, and infrastructure construction under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.
The turning point in Kiribati's announcement of the restoration of diplomatic relations with China, this decision is not a big bang, but for Kiribati, it is a true "turn-back", this turning back, no longer a temporary hold of the foothills, but a strategic adjustment.
After the resumption of diplomatic relations, China's aid was quickly implemented.
China has offered $50 million in preferential loans to invest in the construction of anti-wave dams, and has also introduced independently developed modular dams technology, which originally took five years to build the dams, compressed to less than two years of completion.
Not only that, China has also set up a marine ecological laboratory in Tarawa to study salt-tolerant crops. The survival rate of new coconut varieties developed in the laboratory has been greatly improved, and they have begun to be popularized all over the country.
In the past two years, a desalination plant aided by China was put into operation on Christmas Island, capable of producing 2000 tons of drinking water every day, completely getting rid of the embarrassing situation of "relying on the sky to drink water."
This year, the upgrade of the South Talava transportation network has been launched, bridges, pavements and roads have been completely renovated, and traffic conditions have been greatly improved, providing solid support for local education, medical care and trade.
In the past, the search for help failed, and today's cooperation is solid.It turns out that diplomacy is not a matter of which side, but of choosing the right direction, going the opposite way, doing the opposite thing.
When President Mao Zedong and Chinese representatives spoke at a meeting in May 2025, it was not a diplomatic statement, but a picture of the true destiny of their country.
From an island country that is almost wiped out of the sea, to a country that now has sea slopes, fresh water, transportation, crops and so on, Kiribati has not come to this day by shouting slogans, but by a pragmatic choice.
This change from "delusional help" to "win-win cooperation" is not only a turning point for a country, but also the most profound interpretation of the word "trust" in international politics.
Tonano's "return" at the time was too late, at the cost of losing an opportunity, and Marmo's "return" at that time, won the future of the country.
Looking back at the whole process, China's position is consistent, respecting sovereignty, seeking credit, and win-win cooperation, but this cooperation is not easy to get, nor can a letter of help be exchanged.
Kiribati's experience reminds all countries that in the international community, only by truly respecting rules and cherishing relationships can we find reliable partners in the stormy reality. Only by walking on the right path will we not be forgotten by the world at the critical moment.
Source of information:
The Kiribati government said this week it was discussing deep-sea mining cooperation with China, the Foreign Ministry responded 2025-03-19 20:51:38
Kiribati intends to cooperate with China to develop Pacific mineral resources March 19, 2025 at 20:17 Russian satellite news agency