China and Honduras established diplomatic relations on Sunday, a setback for Taiwan, which is still losing an ally and denounces Beijing’s “coercion and intimidation”.
Tegucigalpa had announced a few hours earlier the severance of its ties with Taipei, which is now only recognized by 13 states in the world.
“The two governments have decided to recognize each other and establish diplomatic relations,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
China considers the island of Taiwan, with a population of 23 million, to be one of its provinces, which it has not yet managed to reunite with the rest of its territory since the end of the civil war. Chinese.
Completed in 1949, the conflict pitted the Communists (who eventually took power in mainland China) against the Nationalist army (forced to retreat to the island).
In seven decades, the communist army was never able to conquer the island, which remained under the control of the “Republic of China” – which once ruled all of China and now only rules Taiwan.
During a ceremony in Beijing, the Honduran Minister of Foreign Affairs, Enrique Reina, signed with his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang a document recognizing the establishment of diplomatic relations.
They then toasted in front of a row of flags from their countries.
“We would be delighted to welcome (Honduran) President Xiomara Castro to China as soon as possible,” said Qin Gang, welcoming bilateral relations “which will benefit both countries and their peoples”.
“Let us send this message to the Taiwanese authorities: promoting independence and separatism in Taiwan, going against the will and interests of the Chinese nation (…) is a dead end,” he said. He underlines.
In the name of the “one China principle”, Beijing does not allow foreign countries to have diplomatic relations simultaneously with it and with Taipei.
In a press release from his ministry published on Saturday evening, Enrique Reina said he had notified Taiwan of “the decision to sever diplomatic relations”.
In response, Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu on Sunday accused Honduras of “deluding themselves” about Chinese promises of economic aid.
During a press conference in Taipei, he also accused Tegucigalpa of overbidding in recent weeks in order to obtain funding.
Enrique Reina had invoked on March 15 “the enormous needs” of Honduras in economic matters and the refusal of Taiwan to increase its aid to justify the desire to establish relations with Beijing.
“The severance of diplomatic relations between our country and Honduras is part of a series of coercion and intimidation by China,” responded the office of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.
In a message on Facebook, she considered “regrettable” the breaking of ties with Tegucigalpa.
“We are not going to get into a meaningless battle with China that would consist of carrying out checkbook diplomacy” to retain allies, she stressed.
“It is important to note that (China) often makes, in exchange for diplomatic recognition, promises that ultimately remain unfulfilled,” reacted the American Institute in Taiwan – the de facto embassy of the United States in Taiwan. ‘island.
Chinese authorities have sought to diplomatically isolate Taiwan since Ms Tsai came to power in 2016.
She comes from a party traditionally in favor of independence.
An absolute red line for Beijing, which threatens to intervene militarily to prevent such a scenario and has increased its economic and military pressure on the island.
In recent years, Beijing had already removed several Latin American allies from Taipei.
Among the states that still have diplomatic relations with Taiwan are the Vatican, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Paraguay, Pacific island nations and Haiti.
This new diplomatic setback comes as Tsai Ing-wen is due to leave on Wednesday for a trip to two of his last allies, Belize and Guatemala.
She should stop in the United States, an initiative condemned by Beijing.
US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy said he would meet Ms Tsai in California, with the US State Department saying the planned trip was a “transit” rather than a “visit”.
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03/26/2023 10:31:06 – Beijing (AFP) – © 2023 AFP
