Observers say Pacific Island nations that have diplomatic ties with Taiwan have little to fear from likely closer ties between Taiwan and mainland China.
Six Pacific nations get economic aid for recognising Taiwan rather than China.
Taiwan has just elected a new President, Ma Ying-jeoh, on a platform of better ties with China.
But Liu Ping of the China Times newspaper says the wider picture means the new President is unlikely to change the relationship.
"Those countries are not so important on the international forum, and at the same time, more and more countries like Japan and US urge China to give some international space to Taiwan, so I think maybe Taiwan can keep what it has with those islands."
The Taiwanese embassy in Kiribati says it expects no changes in its relationship once the new President is inaugurated.
