Honduras bows to China and breaks off relations with Taiwan

The communist leadership in Beijing does not allow any country to have relations with both the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan.

Honduras severed diplomatic relations with Taiwan, fulfilling a demand from China, which considers the island republic part of its territory. The Central American country’s foreign ministry said on Saturday that the government of the Central American country recognizes the government of the Communist People’s Republic of China as the sole legitimate representative of the whole of China.

Thus, Taiwan lost another diplomatic ally on the international stage.

One China Doctrine

The government in Tegucigalpa announced the move a few days ago. Mainly for economic reasons, it wants to establish relations with China, which in return requires severing relations with Taiwan. With the One China doctrine, the communist leadership in Beijing does not allow any country to have relations with both the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan. Germany only has unofficial representation in Taipei.

Taiwan has had an independent government since 1949, but China considers the island part of its territory and opposes any form of official diplomatic contact between Taiwan and other countries. Beijing has been intensifying its campaign to isolate Taiwan internationally for several years. Only 13 countries around the world recognize the island Democratic Republic of Taiwan diplomatically – including the small Pacific nations, Caribbean islands, some countries in Central America, and the Vatican.

(APA/DSPA)