One of the 15 countries in the world that has so far recognized Taiwan as an independent nation is now turning around. Nicaragua now believes that China has a right to the island in the East China Sea.
Nicaragua’s government declares that it recognizes that there is only one China in the world. The People’s Republic of China is the only legitimate government that represents the whole of China, and Taiwan is an integral part of Chinese territory.
Nicaragua’s Secretary of State Denis Moncada Colindres said in a press release Thursday night. Therefore, the country is now cutting off its diplomatic relations with Taiwan. For many years, the Nicaraguan authorities have recognized the Taiwanese government (Republic of China) as the legitimate government of all of China.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry commented on the matter in a press release, saying it was responding with “pain and apology” to Nicaragua’s new line.
“As a member of the international community, Taiwan has the right to exchange and cultivate diplomatic relations with other countries,” the statement said.
China’s UN ambassador Zhang Jun, on the other hand, praises the decision, and writes on Twitter that he believes it is “in line with the current trend”.
Was one of 15 allies
China claims to have a territorial right to Taiwan, even though the island has its own system of government, its own government and in practice operates as an independent nation. Internationally, Taiwan is recognized by only a few nations as an independent state.
–Thursday’s news also means that Nicaragua no longer recognizes Taiwan as an independent state. 14 other nation states in the world that have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan:
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Haiti
- Paraguay
- Eswatini
- Tuvalu
- Nauru
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Belize
- The Marshall Islands
- Palau
- Vatican City State
The most recent countries to have severed ties are El Salvador in 2018, followed by the Solomon Islands and Kiribati in 2019.
Norway is not among the countries that recognize Taiwan as an independent nation, but allows Taiwanese citizens to enter Norway with Taiwanese passports. Taiwanese students, on the other hand, have reacted to being listed with China as a nationality in Norwegian registers, somewhat Aftenposten has previously mentioned.
The level of conflict between China and Taiwan has increased recently, and it has been speculated whether China is preparing for an invasion. In that case, it could end in a major war, reported VG earlier this week.
The United States is a strong power factor in East Asia, and wants a presence in the region – including Taiwan. An attack on Taiwan could thus be interpreted as an attack on American interests, explained China expert Torbjørn Færøvik.
– It is starting to look like a new cold war, said Karsten Friis, head of security and defense research at Nupi to VG already last year.
When Nicaragua now declares closer ties to Beijing – and no ties to Taiwan, it comes in the wake of a longer
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