Solomon Islands to sever ties with Taiwan, shift alliance to Beijing

FILE PHOTO: National flags are seen at the Diplomatic Quarter, where Taiwan's ally embassies are located, in Taipei, Taiwan August 23, 2018. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File Photo

SYDNEY (Reuters) - The Solomon Islands intends to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan and align itself with Beijing, the leader of a high-level government team representing the South Pacific archipelago has said.

The switch, which still needs to be formalised, would be a prize for China in its bid to peel away allies from what it considers a wayward province with no right to state-to-state ties. Only 17 countries now recognise Taiwan.