1. 2016 Air Kiribati proposed to the government (and the funder Taiwan) a used A319. A few months later it was then an old B737 Combi. In 2017 they approached Air Niugini and Alliance Airlines to venture with the Fokkers.
2. 2018 out of nowhere they announced their interest of the E190 E2 and the Shark demo aircraft turns up to Tarawa. Air Kiribati signs the documents and places a deposit.
3. Taiwan withdraws the aid funds stating they will only provide aid for health, education and agriculture as stated in the agreement. The Kiribati government is then desperate to find aid funds to pay for the aircraft.
4. 2019 China offers to pay for the 2 E190s provided Kiribati terminates Taiwan and takes back China into the country. It's all part of China's "One belt road" strategy to obtain Kiribati along with other Pacific Islands.
5. Kiribati has now sold itself to China for the jets.
Background:
Air Kiribati and the local CAAK is not capable to register jets hence the VH and ZK registrations.
The majority of the Kiribati people are not happy with the purchase of brand new planes whilst the country is still struggling in health, education and development.
Air Kiribati had an ATR72-500 International venture in 2002 and it only lasted 2 years. The nation has a very small niche tourism market. There are already 3 carriers servicing Tarawa from Nadi, Honiara and Nauru all filled with mainly government aid workers and local patients.
A very political project
Cheerios!