Honduras, a nation in Central America, severed its long-standing connections with Taiwan on Sunday and formally established diplomatic ties with Beijing, declaring that it “recognizes the existence of just one China in the world.” As a result, Taiwan now has only 13 recognized friends.
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has conducted extensive military maneuvers surrounding Taiwan in the past and at the beginning of this year, and its air force often flies fighter aircraft and bombers over the island, contributing to growing cross-Strait tension.
According to a joint statement released today by China and Honduras, the two nations “agreed to recognize each other and establish diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level, effective from the date of signing of this communiqué.”
The joint statement was signed on Sunday at the Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing by the foreign minister and state councilor of China, Qin Gang, and the foreign minister of Honduras, Eduardo Enrique Reina.
In a statement earlier in the day, the Honduran foreign ministry acknowledged that there is only “one China in the world and that the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal authority that represents all of China.”
“Taiwan is an integral part of Chinese territory,” it said, “and as of today, the Honduras government has notified Taipei of the severance of diplomatic ties and pledged not to have any formal engagement with Taiwan.”
In a statement, the Chinese foreign ministry stated that Honduras “chooses to stand with 181 nations in the world, recognize and pledge to adhere to the one-China principle, and cut the so-called “diplomatic ties” with Taiwan.”
Earlier this month, President Xiaomaro Castro of Honduras tweeted that she had given the go-ahead for discussions with China and intended to “extend boundaries freely in conjunction with the countries of the globe.”
Taiwan’s ambassador to Honduras was summoned last week as a result, and he issued a warning to the Central American nation not to fall victim to China’s “trap”.
Since the two sides separated after a civil war in 1949, China and Taiwan—which Beijing regards as a renegade territory that should be reunited with the mainland with force if necessary—have been engaged in a diplomatic arms race for recognition.
Beijing views self-governing Taiwan as a separate portion of its territory under the “one-China principle,” rejects formal links between a third nation and the island, and has never ruled out using force to annex the island to the mainland.
Taiwan cut ties with Honduras to “safeguard its sovereignty and dignity,” according to Taiwan’s foreign minister Joseph Wu on Sunday.
According to a Taipei-based Associated Press story, Wu said Castro and her staff had always had a “fantasy” about China and had brought up the possibility of cutting relations before the Honduran presidential election in 2021. He said that while relations between Taiwan and Honduras had previously been peaceful, China had continued to court Honduras.
While Taiwan currently only has 13 recognized friends, many nations, including India, continue to have informal relations with the island nation, which is a global leader in technology, especially the crucial chip industry.
Washington’s links to Taipei and its arms sales to the island have been a key source of contention between China and the US. China claims it is an intrusion into its own affairs.