RNZ
Date: 21 September 2019
By: Jamie Tahana, RNZ Pacific Journalist
Taiwan suffered two major diplomatic blows in the Pacific this week with both the Solomon Islands 
In just four days, Taiwan's diplomatic allies fell from 17 to 15, further isolating the island as Beijing aggressively courts the handful of countries that still recognise the government in Taipei.
The Taiwanese flag is lowered outside the embassy in Honiara after the relations between Taiwan and Solomon Islands were severed on Tuesday. Photo: Facebook/ Maverick Peter Seda
The Pacific had been a stronghold of support for Taipei as its diplomatic allies steadily dwindled. Until this week, six countries in the region recognised Taiwan over China. But in terms of population, Solomon Islands and Kiribati were the biggest. [FULL STORY]