Honduras established diplomatic relations with China on Sunday, after severing ties with Taiwan, which has been more isolated and is currently recognised by just 13 sovereign governments, including Vatican City, news agency Associated Press (AP) reported.
Foreign ministers from China and Honduras signed a joint declaration in Beijing, a decision welcomed as "the right choice" by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
The diplomatic success for China comes at a time when tensions between Beijing and Washington are rising, particularly over China's growing aggressiveness towards self-ruled Taiwan, and it signifies expanding Chinese influence in South America. The new China-Honduras connection was proclaimed after the Honduran and Taiwanese governments announced separate severances.
Since their civil war split in 1949, China and Taiwan have been fighting for diplomatic recognition, with Beijing spending billions to gain recognition for its "one China" policy.
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory, to be seized by force if necessary, and denies most connections with countries that maintain diplomatic relations with the island democracy. It threatens countries with reprisal just for increasing connections.
In a statement posted on Twitter, the Honduran Foreign Ministry stated that its government acknowledges "only one China in the world" and that Beijing "is the sole legal government that represents all of China."
“Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory, and as of today, the Honduran government has informed Taiwan of the severance of diplomatic relations, pledging not to have any official relationship or contact with Taiwan," it added.
Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu stated at a press conference on Sunday that Taiwan has severed ties with Honduras in order to "safeguard its sovereignty and dignity."
Honduran President Xiomara Castro and her administration, according to Wu, have long had a "fantasy" about China and have broached the possibility of cutting relations before the presidential election in Honduras in 2021. He said that relations between Taiwan and Honduras were formerly steady, but that China has not ceased enticing Honduras.
Honduras has approached Taiwan for billions of dollars in help and compared its proposals to those of China, according to Wu. He noted that the Honduras government requested $2.45 billion from Taiwan around two weeks ago to build a hospital and a dam, as well as to pay off debts.
“The Castro government dismissed our nation’s longstanding assistance and relations and carried out talks to form diplomatic ties with China. Our government feels pained and regretful,” he was quoted by AP in its report.
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen stated that her administration would not “engage in a meaningless contest of dollar diplomacy with China.”
“Over these past few years, China has persistently used various means to suppress Taiwan’s international participation, escalate military intrusion, and disrupt peace and stability in the region,” she said in a recorded video, AP reported.
(With Inputs From AP)