INTERNATIONAL: Taiwan President Tsai Ing-Wen says that on Thursday morning, Taiwan and Nicaragua ended their diplomatic relations. The decision to cut ties touches upon the complex nature of international politics as well as the situation with cross strait relations. And she assured Taiwan’s citizens that with the continued success of Taiwan's democracy, international support will only be stronger. And she firmly believes that no matter if it's suppression through means of diplomacy, or the threat of military force, none of these will ever change Taiwan’s determination to safeguard its democratic freedoms, to march towards the world, or its participation in the global community.

Nicaragua on Thursday, 10 December has broken its longstanding diplomatic ties with Taiwan, switching allegiance to Beijing in a recognition of the Chinese Communist party's One China policy and reducing Taipei's dwindling pool of international allies.

At the now-defunct Nicaraguan embassy in Taipei, in a building in the leafy suburb of Tianmu, staff has claimed that the former ambassador was not in. Nicaragua's flag outside had been removed by the time.

Taiwan's government has said it was unbowed by Nicaragua's decision. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said they would not bend to pressure or change their determination to uphold their democratic freedoms and "march towards the world."

China's Foreign Ministry, has announced the decision after meetings with Nicaragua's finance minister and two of President Daniel Ortega's sons in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin, said the country had made the "correct choice."