China: Nauru’s President – David Adeang – Traces His Ancestral Roots to Kaiping, Guangdong – Reunites with Relatives – Enjoying Seasonal Lychees! (9.2.2026)

10.7.2025

Recently, President David Adeang of the South Pacific island nation of Nauru and his family went to Guangdong to find their historical (ethnic) Chinese roots. His mother is of Chinese descent, and his maternal great-grandfather is from Jiangmen, Guangdong. David Adeang previously said that Guangdong is the hometown of his ancestors, and he has a special affection for it. He is happy to visit Guangdong again – after last year. It is hoped that through this journey to find roots, we will continue to promote people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, and inject more impetus into a new era of common development and prosperity in Nauru and China.

Talk to your grandmother

From July 6-9 (2025), David Adeang and his family visited Guangdong to trace their ancestors and make exchange visits. On the morning of the 8th, David Adeang and his party came to the Su’an (素庵) [White Temple] Residence in Chikan Town, Kaiping City – a building that combines both Chinese and Western elements – one of the five Ancestral Halls of the Situ (司徒) family, and an important place for the Situ family to worship and pay their respects. David Adeang took his family up the newly renovated stone steps to the Situ Family Ancestral Hall on the top floor.

David Adeang led his family to worship his Chinese ancestors according to his hometown customs – and express his remembrance and gratitude to his ancestors. After that, the President and his party also planted a banyan tree opposite the Su’an’s residence, symbolizing the family roots. On that day, Nauruan President Adeang sat around with the villagers and ate seasonal lychees (Long Yan [龍眼] – Dragon Eyes). Adeang’s maternal grandmother – Tan Huixia (譚惠霞) – is 81 years old and in good spirits.

At the Overseas Chinese Museum in the Overseas Chinese Capital of China, Adeang and his delegation visited the “Roots in Overseas Chinese Township” Jiangmen Overseas Chinese History Exhibition, learned about the arduous and glorious entrepreneurial history of overseas Jiangmen overseas Chinese, and appreciated the profound and unique overseas Chinese culture in Jiangmen Wuyi Overseas Chinese Township.

After visits and research by relevant departments, it was confirmed that Adeang’s maternal great-grandfather (Situ – 司徒) was originally from Zhongxin Village, Chikan Town, Kaiping City, Jiangmen, Guangdong.