On Sunday, China and Honduras established diplomatic relations after the Latin American country officially switched relations from Taiwan.
After holding talks in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister (FM) Qin Gang and Honduran FM Eduardo Reina signed a joint communiqué on the newly established official relations, which elaborates on their agreement 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.”
As part of the agreement, Honduras acknowledged the legitimacy of the one-China policy and that “Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory.”
It further pledged to “sever diplomatic relations” with Taiwan with immediate effect, and “no longer develop any official relations or official exchanges” with the self-governing island, which China claims to be part of its own territory.
🇨🇳🇭🇳 pic.twitter.com/E6bfk51lC6
— Hua Chunying 华春莹 (@SpokespersonCHN) March 26, 2023
Taiwanese Response
Taiwanese FM Joseph Wu said that Honduran President Xiomara Castro and her government “always had illusions” about China and that the Asian giant’s “luring” had never stopped.
Referring to Honduras’ demand for significantly increased economic assistance, Wu added that the Castro government had “asked [Taiwan] for billions of dollars in huge economic assistance and compared prices for assistance programmes provided by Taiwan and China.”
This is the right choice that is in line with the prevailing trend and supported by the people. China highly appreciates that.
— Hua Chunying 华春莹 (@SpokespersonCHN) March 26, 2023
Meanwhile, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said in a video-recorded statement that her country would not compete with China in “meaningless” dollar diplomacy.
“Taiwan’s people have proved to the world that we never cower from threats. Taiwan’s cooperation and links with allies and like-minded countries to jointly promote international well-being and security will only increase, not decrease,” she said.
US Warning to Honduras
The decision was met with scepticism from the US — a Taiwanese ally. The US State Department warned Honduras that China does not always deliver on its financial promises.
“It is important to note [China] often makes promises in exchange for diplomatic recognition that ultimately remain unfulfilled,” it said in a statement.
On 26 March 2023, SC and FM Qin Gang held talks with Foreign Minister of Honduras Eduardo Reina in Beijing, and they signed the Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Honduras. pic.twitter.com/zMvEdP4CIQ
— Hua Chunying 华春莹 (@SpokespersonCHN) March 26, 2023
It added that “regardless of Honduras’ decision, the US will continue to deepen and expand” its engagement with Taiwan.