Honduras says there is ‘only one China’ as it officially cuts ties with Taiwan

Honduras has cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan, the Latin American country announced on Saturday, saying it recognises “only one China in the world”.

The move leaves Taiwan recognised by only 13 sovereign states .

“The government of the Republic of Honduras recognises the existence of only one China in the world and that the government of the People’s Republic of China is the only legitimate government that represents all of China,” the ministry statement said .

It added that: “Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory , and as of today, the Honduran government has informed Taiwan the severance of diplomatic relations , pledging not to have any official relationship or contact with Taiwan.”

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.

Taiwan’s foreign minister , Joseph Wu, accused Honduran president Xiomara Castro of being misled by Chinese promises of financial aid . Honduras’s move followed negotiations with China on building a hydroelectric dam in the country.

The announcement by Honduras’s foreign ministry comes amid rising tensions between Beijing and the United States .

Taiwan retains robust informal ties with more than 100 other countries, most importantly the US. The US doesn’t have diplomatic relations with Taiwan but has maintained that Taipei is an important partner in the Indo-Pacific.

Taiwan still has formal ties with 13 nations including Belize, Paraguay and Guatemala in Latin America, and Vatican City. Most of its remaining partners are island nations in the Caribbean and South Pacific, along with Eswatini in southern Africa.

Many of the allies receive financial assistance from Taiwan, or have access to Taiwan’s medical system or scholarships at Taiwanese universities. The ministry of foreign affairs confirmed on Sunday that with the ending of ties with Honduras, 170 students would lose their scholarships at the end of the current semester.

The People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Honduras Establish Diplomatic Relations

On 26 March 2023, State Councilor and Foreign Minister 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. The main points of the communiqué are as follows :

The People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Honduras, in keeping with the interests and desire of the two peoples, have decided to recognize each other and establish diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level, effective from the date of signature of this communiqué.

The two Governments agree to develop friendly relations between the two countries on the basis of 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.

The Government of the Republic of Honduras recognizes that there is but one China in the world, the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal Government representing the whole of China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory . The Government of the Republic of Honduras shall sever “ diplomatic relations ” with Taiwan as of this day and undertakes that it shall no longer develop any official relations or official exchanges with Taiwan. The Government of the People’s Republic of China appreciates this position of the Government of the Republic of Honduras.

生词记录

diplomatic 外交的

cut ties with sb. 与…切断联系/关系

sovereignty 主权，统治权

inalienable 不可分割的

severance 解雇费，遣散费；断绝，中断，分离

pledge 承诺，保证；抵押；誓言，诺言

ministry 外交部

minister 部长

negotiation 谈判，协商

hydroelectric 水电的

dam 大坝

retain 保留，保持，保有

robust 坚固的，耐用的，强壮的

ally 盟友，结盟

semester 学期

communique 公报

ambassadorial 大使的

mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity , mutual non- aggression , non- interference in each other’s internal affairs , equality , mutual benefit and peaceful coexistence

尊重主权，领土完整，互不侵犯，互不干涉内政，平等互利，和平共处

server 切断，中断

undertake 承诺，承担