The Honduran government announced on Sunday that it is ending decades-old diplomatic relations with Taiwan, bringing it closer to China, which is working to strengthen its presence in Central America.
“The government of Honduras recognizes that there is only one China,” the Honduran foreign ministry said on Twitter. “The government of China is the only legitimate government that represents all of China.”
The ministry added that Honduras had informed Taiwan of its decision to sever relations, and that it would not re-establish any relationship or official contact with Taiwan.
For his part, Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said that his country had severed diplomatic relations with Honduras and decided to close its embassy there.
And the Taiwanese foreign minister considered that Honduran President Xiomara Castro had “illusions” regarding China’s promises to her to provide economic aid, adding that “China has not stopped trying to lure Honduras through financial incentives.”
Honduras’ decision comes days following its foreign minister visited China following Honduras President Xiomara Castro said her government would begin relations with Beijing.
Honduras was one of only 14 countries to officially recognize Taiwan.
Under the “One China” policy, the regime in Beijing does not accept the establishment of diplomatic relations with it and with Taiwan at the same time.
Any country’s recognition of the People’s Republic of China leads to severing relations between it and Taiwan.
China considers Taiwan one of its provinces, which has no right to establish relations with states, a view strongly rejected by the government in Taipei.
