Honduras and China establish diplomatic ties

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
26 Mar 2023 09:33
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The switch comes just days after Honduran Foreign Minister Enrique Reina visited Beijing.

Honduras Foreign Minister Eduardo Enrique Reina (L) and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang shake hands following the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries on March 26, 2023. (AFP)

Formal diplomatic ties between China and Honduras have officially been established. Meanwhile, Taiwan rushed to blame Beijing for what it called using "coercion and intimidation" to lure away its few remaining allies.

Shortly after Tegucigalpa declared it had formally broken ties with Taipei, Beijing announced its establishment of ties with the former.

"China and Honduras just established diplomatic relations," tweeted Hua Chunying, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry.

Honduras chooses to stand with 181 countries in the world, recognize and undertake to adhere to the one-China principle & establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China.
— Hua Chunying 华春莹 (@SpokespersonCHN) March 26, 2023

This comes just a few days after Honduran Foreign Minister Enrique Reina visited Beijing to establish diplomatic ties, as per government officials.

It is worth noting that China considers Taiwan part of its territory and opposes any direct official foreign contacts with the island.

After losing a number of Latin American allies in recent years, Taiwan would have just 13 nations with which it has formal diplomatic relations.

Last week, Taiwan recalled its ambassador to Honduras over the visit by Tegucigalpa's Foreign Minister to China, as per a statement released by Taipei's government.

At the time, Reina said that upon instructions from President Xiomara Castro, he had "communicated to Taiwan the decision to cease diplomatic relations", a ministry statement said.

"The government of the Republic of Honduras recognizes the existence of only one China in the world, and that the government of the People's Republic of China is the only legitimate government that represents all of China," the Honduras foreign ministry said.

"Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory."

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen said the switch was "part of a series of China's coercion and intimidation".

"China has suppressed the international space of (Taiwan) for a long time, unilaterally endangering regional peace and stability," read a statement from her office.

On his account, Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu affirmed the severing of ties, accusing China of offering "financial incentives to lure away the island's allies."

Earlier this month, Reina said that the decision to forge relations with China was motivated by economic need and Taiwan's refusal to extend financial assistance to Honduras.

China's growing influence in Latin America

The change, which President Xiomara Castro had pledged to make while running for office, was made a few weeks after the administration revealed it was in talks with China to build a hydroelectric dam.

The declaration by Honduras follows a pattern in the region that has seen recent diplomatic recognition changes by Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Panama.

After switching recognition to Beijing in 1979, the United States continues to be Taiwan's principal ally and top arms supplier.

Taiwan has now officially announced that President Tsai will visit Guatemala and Belize later this month, and also make stops in other countries, including the United States.

According to the ministry, Tsai will fly out of Taiwan on March 29 for the 10-day tour, including stops in New York and Los Angeles on the way to and from the Central American nations.