China opens ties with Honduras, Taiwan decries monetary demands

Record ID: 1717229

  • Title: China opens ties with Honduras, Taiwan decries monetary demands
  • Date: 26th March 2023
  • Summary: TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS (MARCH 26, 2023) (REUTERS) CATHEDRAL AT CENTRAL SQUARE PEOPLE WANDERING IN SQUARE PEOPLE SITTING IN SQUARE PEOPLE WALKING IN STREET PEOPLE WANDERING IN SQUARE EXTERIOR OF FLAG-LESS TAIWAN EMBASSY SIGN READING (Chinese/Spanish): “EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN)” GUARD AND POLICE AT EMBASSY’S ENTRANCE EMBASSY FAÇADE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CIVIL SERVANT, FAUSTINO ESPINAL, SAYING: “We have to capitalise on it. As long as there isn’t meddling from China’s government, I think it could work. In the same way it worked with Taiwan, it could work with China, but without meddling and the government doesn’t give in in matters that are not convenient.” PEOPLE WALKING IN STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) TEACHER, LUIS RODRIQUEZ, SAYING: “It’s a good decision Honduras made because we can do business with China and the United States. Look at El Salvador, which has had relations with the United States and China and it has benefited enough. If we have relations with China, we will have hydroelectric (plants).”
  • Embargoed: 9th April 2023 22:31
  • Keywords: China Honduras Relations Taiwan Ties
  • Location: VARIOUS LOCATIONS/ INTERNET
  • City: VARIOUS LOCATIONS/ INTERNET
  • Country: Honduras
  • Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,South America / Central America,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA003041126032023RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: China established diplomatic ties with Honduras on Sunday (March 26) after the Central American country ended its decades-long relationship with Taiwan, while Taiwan's foreign minister accused Honduras of demanding exorbitant sums before being lured away by Beijing.
    The ending of ties with Taiwan had been expected after the Honduran foreign minister travelled to China last week to open relations and President Xiomara Castro said her government would start ties with Beijing.
    China said its foreign minister, Qin Gang, and Honduran Foreign Minister, Eduardo Enrique Reina, signed the deal on diplomatic recognition in Beijing, ending relations with Taiwan dating back to the 1940s.
    In a brief statement late on Saturday (March 26), the Honduran foreign ministry said it recognised the People's Republic of China as the only legitimate government that represents all of China and that Taiwan is an "inseparable part of Chinese territory."
    China claims democratically ruled Taiwan as its own territory with no right to state-to-state ties, a position Taipei strongly rejects. China demands that countries with which it has ties to recognise its position.
    Qin told Reina Honduran companies were invited to come to China to discuss trade and investment, while Reina said Honduras was willing to strengthen cooperation with China in finance, trade and infrastructure, China's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
    The United States has been watching with concern as China expands its footprint in its backyard by taking away Taiwan's Central American allies, and has repeatedly warned countries not to believe China's promises of aid.
    Relations between Honduras and Taiwan date back to 1941 when the government of the Republic of China, which remains Taiwan's official name, was still in China before it fled to the island in 1949 after losing a civil war with Mao Zedong's communists.
    Taiwan now only has formal diplomatic relations with 13 countries, mostly poor and developing countries in Central America, the Caribbean and the Pacific.
    (Production: Marvin Valladares, Manuel Carrillo, Anna Portella)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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