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 reunify with the rest of its territory.
Diplomatic relations are strained between Taipei and Tegucigalpa. This Sunday, China and Honduras established diplomatic relations, 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 severing 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.
Signatures and congratulations
China considers the island of Taiwan, with a population of 23 million, to be one of its provinces, which it has yet to manage to reunify 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 has never been able to conquer the island, which has 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 Foreign Minister, Enrique Reina, signed with his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang a document acknowledging the establishment of diplomatic relations. They then toasted in front of a row of flags from their countries.
“Deadlock”
“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.
