Nauru History: Independence of Nauru

1968 - Nauru became the world's smallest independent republic following a two-year constitutional convention. It was led by founding president Hammer DeRoburt.

1969 - Nauru became associate member of Commonwealth.

1970 - The complete control of the phosphate mines was transferred to the locally owned Nauru Phosphate Corporation. Money gained from the exploitation of phosphate was put into the Nauru Phosphate Royalties Trust and gave Nauruans the second highest GDP Per Capita (second only to the United Arab Emirates) and one of the highest standards of living in the Third World.

1989 - Nauru sues Australia in the International Court of Justice for additional phosphate royalties dating back to trusteeship period, and compensation for mining damage. In the same year UN report on greenhouse effect warns Nauru might disappear beneath the sea in the 21st Century.

1993 - Australia agrees to pay out-of-court settlement of $73m over 20 years. New Zealand and the UK agree to pay a one-time settlement of $8.2m each.

1999 - The finite phosphate supplies were fast running out and in same year Republic of Nauru finally joined the UN.

2001 - Australia pays Nauru to hold mostly Afghan asylum seekers picked up trying to enter Australia illegally.

2002 June - Nauru holds some 1,000 asylum seekers on Australia's behalf. President Rene Harris says Canberra's promise that they would be gone by May has been broken. In the same year, Nauru severed diplomatic recognition with Taiwan (Republic of China) and signed an agreement to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. This move followed China's promise to provide more than U.S. $130 million in aid.

2004 - Nauru broke off relations with the PRC and re-established them with the Taiwan (ROC).