China officially recognized Honduras as a member of the international community on Sunday, after the Central American nation cut decades of diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
President Xiomara Castro said last week that her government would establish diplomatic ties with Beijing. The following week, the foreign minister of Honduras visited China.
According to Chinese official media, China’s foreign minister Qin Gang and Honduras’ foreign minister Eduardo Enrique Reina signed an agreement in Beijing to terminate diplomatic relations with Taiwan that dated back to the 1940s.
The Honduran foreign ministry released a brief statement late Saturday stating that it recognizes the People’s Republic of China as the only lawful government representing all of China and that Taiwan is “an integral part of Chinese territory.”
Taiwan is governed democratically, despite China’s assertion that the island is its territory over which it has no diplomatic authority. China demands its partners and friends to recognize its position.
Since assuming office at the beginning of this year, Castro and her government have “always had illusions” about China, according to Taiwan’s foreign minister, Joseph Wu.
“The foreign ministry and embassy comprehended the pertinent information and handled it with care. Yet, the Castro government also demanded substantial financial assistance from us, comparing the prices of different aid packages given by Taiwan and China “I quote Wu.
Taiwan’s president, Tsai Ing-wen, said in a video message that her nation will not compete with China by “meaningless” dollar diplomacy.
“China seems to be doing this on purpose”
“Taiwanese citizens have shown to the world that they will never back down in the face of threat. Far from decreasing, Taiwan’s cooperation and relations with friends and like-minded states would only expand in order to collectively improve the well-being and security of the global community “She said.
Reina said that Honduras was willing to expand its partnership with China in the areas of banking, commerce, and infrastructure, and the Chinese Foreign Ministry extended an invitation to Honduran businesses to visit China to discuss trade and investment.
Last month, a letter signed by Reina requested almost $2.5 billion in aid from Taiwan, including a $2 billion loan to assist with debt repayment and funds for the construction of a hospital and a dam. In the letter, Wu was identified as a “friend.”
Wu said to the press, “It seemed that they wanted money, not a hospital.”
Tsai will embark on a sensitive journey to the United States, Guatemala, and Belize on Wednesday. In Los Angeles, at the end of her voyage, she will meet the current Speaker of the United States House, Kevin McCarthy.
Wu thought it “extremely unusual” that the Honduras decision was made immediately before to Tsai’s departure for her foreign tour.
He said, “China seems to be doing this on purpose.”
The United States has regularly warned other states not to accept China’s aid offers while anxiously watching Beijing expand its influence in its backyard by poaching Taiwan’s Central American allies.
“China makes empty promises”
According to the U.S. State Department, China “often makes unfulfilled promises in exchange for diplomatic recognition,” therefore Honduras’ decision was not unilateral.
Notwithstanding Honduras’ decision, the United States would “continue to enhance and expand our collaboration with Taiwan,” according to the statement.
Honduras established diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 1941, although the government of the Republic of China (then the official name of Taiwan) was still in China.
In 1949, the Republic of China’s leadership retreated to Taiwan after losing a civil war to Mao Zedong’s communists.
Only 13 countries currently recognize Taiwan as a state.
