Honduras ended recognition of Taiwan

The development marked a significant diplomatic victory for China, which is facing increasing tensions with the US. It also shows the growing influence of China in Latin America. The relationship between China and Honduras was established after the governments of Taiwan and Honduras announced that they were cutting ties.

It is believed that Taiwan is preparing for a possible attack by China. The diplomatic battle between China and Taiwan has been ongoing since 1949, when the two sides split due to a civil war. Since then, China has been investing heavily in recognition. China claims that it has the right to control Taiwan, and it would take over the island if necessary. It also refuses to maintain relations with countries that maintain ties with the democratic Taiwan.

Qin Gang, China's Foreign Minister, said that the establishment of ties between China and Honduras shows that the country's One China policy is winning the hearts of people. He added that China would not tolerate separatist activities in Taiwan. He warned the government of the island that its independence is doomed to fail. In response to China's foreign minister, the Honduran Foreign Ministry stated on its official Twitter account that it recognizes only one China. It also claims that Beijing is the legitimate representative of all of China. China also claims that Taiwan is an indivisible part of its territory. As a result, the Honduran government decided to cut its diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

During a press briefing, Joseph Wu, the Foreign Minister of Taiwan, said that the island decided to cut its ties with Honduras to safeguard its dignity and sovereignty. He also said that the Honduran government had a secret plan to switch ties with China ahead of the country's presidential election in 2021. According to Wu, the Honduran government asked for several billion dollars in aid from Taiwan. It noted that the island's proposals were similar to those of China. In response to the decision by the Castro government to cut ties with Taiwan, he said that the country's government felt regret and pain. President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan stated that her government would not engage in dollar diplomacy with China. While, in a recorded statement, Wu said that China has carried out various activities to suppress Taiwan's participation in international organizations. These include escalating military activities and disrupting the region's stability.

Some other nations have established relations with Taiwan, but these did not work out. Despite the growing relationship between China and Honduras, political analysts in the country warned that the development could have negative effects. For decades, China has been investing heavily in various infrastructure projects in Latin America. This has led to the emergence of a number of new allies for the country.

In Honduras, China has financed a hydroelectric project that was built by a Chinese company known as SINOHYDRO. The project was valued at $300 million. Since the inauguration of President Tsai Ing-wen in 2016, Taiwan has lost nine diplomatic allies to China. Honduras was the ninth of these. Taiwan still has diplomatic relations with several countries, such as Guatemala, Paraguay, and Belize. It also has ties with several island nations in the South Pacific and the Caribbean.

According to Lorenzo Maggiorelli, an international relations professor at a university in Colombia, some of the diplomatic recognitions that were granted to Taiwan during the 1980s and 1990s were due to the country's technical and financial aid. In 1998, Taiwan established a fund to support its Central American allies. It also urged Taiwanese businesses to invest in the region to strengthen political ties.

Despite the deteriorating relationship between China and Taiwan, the island still maintains strong informal ties with over a hundred countries. One of these is the US. Although it doesn't have official relations with Taiwan, the US has maintained that it is an important partner of the Indo-Pacific region.

Sneak peak to this historical situation

The hostilities between China and Taiwan started following the civil war in China. After Mao Zedong's Communists defeated the Kuomintang government in 1949, the former fled to Taiwan. In the four years that it had been established, the government of Taiwan called itself the Republic of China. For decades, this group has claimed to be the representative of both the Chinese mainland and Taiwan. Meanwhile, the Communist authorities in China have also been claiming to be the representative of both the Taiwan Strait and the Chinese people. Until 1971, Taiwan was a member of the UN as the Republic of China. In 1971, the General Assembly recognized China as the only legitimate representative of the country. After the US switched its recognition to China in 1979, other countries such as the UK, France, and Germany also recognized the communist regime in Beijing. Despite the growing tension between China and Taiwan, the government of the island has maintained its non-confrontational approach toward the mainland. And the country is still fighting for its separate identity.

Despite the deteriorating relationship between China and Taiwan, the island is still maintaining strong informal ties with western countries.

These ties have allowed it to expand its international influence. Although the US cut its diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1979, its unofficial relationship with the island has not changed. In August, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California traveled to Taiwan. Despite the lack of diplomatic ties, she still decided to visit the island. This was a controversial visit, as China responded angrily by holding massive military exercises. It has not prevented Kevin McCarthy, the House Speaker of California, from planning to meet with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in April. This is reportedly an important trip that will raise tensions with China.

In recent months, Taiwan has been making significant progress in its relations with Europe. These developments seem to be diplomatic breakthroughs.

Fears about another autocrat's designs on democracy in Taiwan and Russia's invasion of Ukraine have prompted European countries to show support for the island. Even though the Vatican City is Taiwan's only diplomatic ally on the continent, many European nations have shown their support for the island.

Last year, a minister from Germany, the biggest economy in Europe, became the first high-ranking official from the country to visit Taiwan in over two decades. Despite the protests from China, the minister's trip was carried out to enhance technological and scientific cooperation.

Moreover, the military of Taiwan revealed that its lieutenant colonel participated in an academic program at an Italian military college. According to experts, the US is the island's most important security ally. It also provides Taiwan with weapons every year. This is despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties between the two sides.

In fact, the G7 countries, which includes the US, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, and the UK, were quick to voice their concerns after China conducted military exercises.

As a global leader in the production of semiconductors, Taiwan is also a valuable trading partner for many European countries. one of Taiwan's companies is regarded as one of Asia's most valuable firms. It accounts for about 90% of the world's advanced chips. The growing number of countries supporting Taiwan through unofficial channels is very important to the island's economy and safety.

Conclusion

The development of a new relationship between China and Honduras is a victory for China as it faces increasing tensions with the US. This relationship was established after the governments of Taiwan and Honduras announced that they were breaking ties. Since 1949, when Taiwan and China split, they have been engaged in a diplomatic battle. For years now, China has been investing heavily in recognition for its "one China" policy. China claims Taiwan as its own territory, and it will take control of it if necessary. It also refuses to maintain contacts with nations that maintain ties with the democratic Taiwan.

Pic Courtsey-Pankaj Jha

(The views expressed are those of the author and do not represent views of CESCUBE.)