The Pacific island of Nauru dumped Taiwan for Beijing in early 2024 expecting a payday, and instead its sales to China have almost vanished — bad news for Nauru, and an awkward advertisement for anyone else weighing the switch.

• Nauru's exports to China fell 99% from the first year after the two countries established ties, down to a token amount.
• In the first half of this year, Nauru sold China barely any goods at all — a further drop of more than 60%.
• The trade runs almost entirely one way: Chinese goods have flooded into Nauru while Nauruan goods barely reach China.
• Nauru had asked Taiwan for a huge aid package worth about half its yearly budget, shopped the offer against Beijing's, and cut ties when Taipei refused.
• The island has also renamed itself the Republic of Naoero, skipping a public vote.

Outlook: The lopsided numbers give Taipei a ready talking point as it fights to hold its few remaining diplomatic partners.