China announced today, Sunday, the establishment of diplomatic relations with Honduras, which is a victory for Beijing, as it alienates a new ally from Taiwan, which is no longer recognized by only 13 countries in the world.
“China and Honduras have just established diplomatic relations,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying tweeted.
Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang and his Honduran counterpart Eduardo Enrique Reina signed a joint statement in Beijing on the establishment of diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level.
According to the statement, the two governments agreed to “develop friendly relations based on the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality, mutual benefit and peaceful coexistence.”
The Government of Honduras has also recognized the One China principle, according to which Taiwan is an integral part of the People’s Republic of China.
On March 14, Honduras decided to establish diplomatic relations with China. On March 23, Honduras’ Deputy Foreign Minister Antonio Garcia revealed that his country had asked Taiwan for $2 billion, hospitals and investment to open factories, but Taipei did not respond.
On Saturday, the Foreign Ministry of Honduras announced the severance of diplomatic relations with Taiwan, which in turn took a similar step today, Sunday.
Taiwan has accused China of pressuring its dwindling allies to join its ranks after the severing of diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Honduras.
“The severance of diplomatic relations between our country and Honduras is part of a series of coercive and intimidating measures,” Taiwan’s presidential office, Tsai Ing-wen, said in a statement. “China has long weakened[Taiwan’s]position in the international arena, unilaterally threatening regional peace and stability.”
Honduras has become the ninth country in the world to break off diplomatic relations with Taiwan since 2016, when Tsai Ing-wen was elected chief of the island’s administration.
Currently, only 13 countries in the world recognize Taiwan as an independent state and establish diplomatic relations with it.
Source: AFP + TASS
