TEGUCIGALPA/TAIPEI, March 26 (Portal) – Taiwan on Sunday confirmed it had ended decades of diplomatic ties with Honduras, after the Central American country said it wanted to establish ties with Beijing as the “only legitimate government” serving represents China.
Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu confirmed the severance ties at a news conference in Taipei, saying it would close its embassy in Honduras and withdraw its ambassador there.
Earlier, the Honduran Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a post on Twitter: “The government of Honduras recognizes the existence of only one China.”
“The Chinese government is the only legitimate government representing all of China…Taiwan is an inseparable part of Chinese territory.”
According to a Portal witness, the Honduran flag has been removed from Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry.
The Honduran foreign minister traveled to China this week to establish ties after President Xiomara Castro announced her government would establish ties with Beijing as Honduras is one of only 14 countries to officially recognize Taiwan.
China regards Taiwan as one of its provinces with no right to interstate relations, a view strongly contested by the democratically elected government in Taipei.
Honduras’ decision to cut ties prompted warnings from the de facto US embassy in Taipei on Saturday that China often makes promises in exchange for recognition that aren’t fulfilled.
After a recent meeting with US officials, the Honduran foreign minister said the US “respects” Honduras’ decision to establish formal diplomatic ties with China.
Taiwan denied the foreign minister’s statements.
Reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei and Gustavo Palencia in Tegucigalpa; Writing by Cassandra Garrison in Mexico City Editing by Marguerita Choy, Robert Birsel
Our standards: The Thomson Portal Trust Principles.