A senior lecturer at the University of Auckland says Taiwan will lose alliances to China if it stops its aid to Pacific countries.
Taiwan has diplomatic recognition from six Pacific countries which enjoy financial support from Taipei.
However, Taiwan's president elect Ma Ying-jeou recently pledged to end chequebook diplomacy.
Senior lecturer in political studies, Dr Jian Yang, says while the amount may be reduced, Pacific countries are too important to Taipei to halt all aid.
"These countries will follow the money. If Taipei decides to stop completely and if Beijing continues, Beijing will have more friends in the region. I tend to believe some changes will happen if Taipei decides to stop this kind of aid in the region."
Jian Yang says it's more likely that Taipei will change the way it delivers aid, stopping it's no-strings-attached assistance, with Beijing probably following suit.
