China's Diplomatic War against Taiwan Forces Honduras to Break Ties with Taipei

Honduras established diplomatic relations with China on Sunday, hours after it announced to break off ties with island nation Taiwan which China claims its own.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang and his Honduran counterpart Eduardo Enrique Reina met in Beijing and signed the Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Honduras on March 26 at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing.

Honduras President Xiomara Castro, expressed willingness to join hands with China during her presidential campaign in 2021, and also said in her Twitter account on March 15 that she instructed Chancellor Eduardo Reina to undertake this mission.

Honduras has decided to stand with 181 other countries around the world and adhere to the one-China principle. The announcement was made a few days before Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's planned visit to Central America.

"It fully proves that the adherence to the one-China principle is a global responsibility and the correct choice echoing the trend and times. We must tell the Taiwan Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities that any 'Taiwan independence' secessionist activities go against the will and benefit of the nation, which will lead to a dead end," Qin said.

“As the China-Honduras relations are ushered into a new page, the Chinese side is willing to actively begin all-level friendly interaction and practical cooperation to benefit the two sides, and China also welcomes Castro to visit China soon,” Qin said, while also inviting the delegation of enterprises from Honduras to travel and invest in China.

Did China lure Honduras with economic aid?

Taiwan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu said in a press conference said Honduras decided to end its diplomatic relations with Taiwan after 82 years.

He said Taipei received a Honduran economic assistance request on March 13 which includes aid for a hospital ($90 million), a hydropower dam ($350 million) and sovereign debt assistance of $2 billion.

Wu said the requests were unreasonable and potentially linked to negotiations with China for a similar economic assistance package.