As Tegucigalpa switches allegiances to China, Honduras’ announcement on Saturday that it had severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan brought an immediate rebuke from Taipei.
According to instructions from President Xiomara Castro, Honduran Foreign Minister Enrique Reina “has communicated to Taiwan the decision to cease diplomatic relations,” a ministry statement said.
Two days after Reina’s trip to Beijing to talk the development of bilateral ties and 11 days after Castro initially declared the switch, the two countries officially cut their diplomatic ties.
Self-governing, democratic Taiwan is seen as a portion of China’s territory that will eventually be retaken, if necessary by force. It forbids nations from recognizing both Beijing and Taipei under its “One China” policy.
The People’s Republic of China is the only legitimate government that represents all of China, the Honduran Foreign Ministry declared on Saturday. “The government of the Republic of Honduras recognizes the existence of only one China in the world.”
“Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory,” it said.
“As of this date, the government of Honduras has communicated to Taiwan the rupture of diplomatic relations, committing to no longer having any relationship or contact of an official nature with Taiwan,” it added.
Soon after, Taiwan’s foreign minister Joseph Wu held a news conference where he accused Castro of being duped by Chinese promises of financial support for her nation.
“President Castro and her ruling team have been harbouring illusions on China and had brought up the issue of switching recognition on the campaign trail,” Wu told reporters at a press conference. “China has not ceased its attempts to lure away Honduras with financial incentives.”
