Honduras severs diplomatic ties with Taiwan, opens relations with China

Honduras has formally established diplomatic ties with China and severed ties with Taiwan, bringing an end to a decades-long relationship and dealing a blow to the self-ruled island democracy’s recognition campaign.

“The government of the Republic of Honduras recognizes the existence of one China in the world and that the government of the People’s Republic of China represents China as a whole,” its ministry of foreign affairs said in a statement on Saturday, as per a report by CNN.

“Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory and as of today, the government of Honduras has informed Taiwan about the rupture of diplomatic relations,” it added.

Honduras-China-Taiwan Ball Game

The matter concerning Honduras, China, and Taiwan is related to diplomatic recognition. Historically, Taiwan (officially called the Republic of China) was recognized as the legitimate government of all of China, including Taiwan and the mainland, by many countries. However, in the 1970s, the United Nations and many countries switched recognition to the People’s Republic of China, which claims Taiwan as its territory.

Honduras, like many other countries, recognized Taiwan as a sovereign state for many years. However, in 2010, the Honduran government under President Porfirio Lobo switched recognition from Taiwan to China. This decision was controversial, as Taiwan and China have been engaged in a long-standing dispute over sovereignty, and many countries have maintained diplomatic relations with Taiwan instead of China due to various reasons such as strategic and economic benefits.

Since the shift in recognition, China has established a strong presence in Honduras, investing in infrastructure and providing aid. However, the move has also led to tensions with the United States, which maintains close ties with Taiwan and has criticized China’s efforts to suppress Taiwan’s international recognition.