Following worries that Honduras might switch diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China after a presidential election, a sudden declaration from its neighbor to the south resulted in diplomatic ties between Nicaragua and Taiwan being broken off instead.
On Thursday, local time, the Central American nation of Nicaragua unexpectedly declared its recognition for “one China”, with Taiwan as an “inalienable part”.
President Tsai Ing-wen says that the more successful Taiwanese democracy is, and the more international support it garners, the stronger the pressure from the authoritarians of the world will be. Neither diplomatic pressure, nor military intimidation will change the will of Taiwanese people to uphold their democratic freedoms, walk on the world stage, or engage with the international democratic community, she said.
Following the Nicaraguan declaration, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Joanne Ou said that Taiwan broke off diplomatic relations with Nicaragua on Friday. Taiwan is ceasing bilateral cooperation projects and aid for its former ally, as well as recalling diplomats and experts stationed there.
The ROC first established diplomatic relations with Nicaragua in 1930. They were broken off for the first time in 1985, and restored five years later, when president Violeta Chamorro came to power. On both occasions, the person responsible for cutting ties has been Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, who has been back in power since 2007.
The foreign ministry’s Joanne Ou says that Taiwan feels regret at Ortega’s decision to turn its back on the shared history of friendship between the peoples of Taiwan and Nicaragua.
Less than three hours after diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Nicaragua were severed, China published a joint communique with Nicaragua and declared the restoration of diplomatic ties. Chinese representative to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, posted on the China-banned microblogging site Twitter, saying that Nicaragua made a correct decision that conformed with the trends and the will of its people. He added that the “one China principle” is an international consensus, and that no challenge to it will be tolerated.
The Nicaraguan declaration comes at a sensitive and significant time. It coincided with the US-held Democracy Summit, to which Taiwan has been invited.
Taiwan’s Premier Su Tseng-chang says that China is trying to isolate Taiwan by any means it can. Su says that Taiwan needs to come together and not let itself be isolated.
The Presidential Office, meanwhile, says that Nicaragua’s decision should be condemned as a manifestation of authoritarian influence.
With Nicaragua cutting its ties with Taiwan, the number of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies is down to 14.