Honduras ends decades-long diplomatic ties with Taiwan

In other related news, Chairman Xi has just granted +1000 social credit points for Honduras.

"The government of China is the only legitimate government that represents all of China... Taiwan is an inseparable part of Chinese territory."

That is clear and honest! Now, will anyone follow up with:

"The government of ROC is the only legitimate government that represents all of China... PRC is an inseparable part of Chinese territory."

Anyone?

"The government of China is the only legitimate government that represents all of China... Taiwan is an inseparable part of Chinese territory."

It's like the Honduran official was reading directly from a CCP script written for him by Xi.

Very sad to see.

I think it will only be a matter of time. We can see how money, talks, and the power money has. It will only be a matter of time before CCP decides to take Taiwan, and only a few countries will recognize Taiwan. Basically this is their strategy. Also once China's economy is even bigger, and owns more of the US's debt, the US et al will economically be unable to do anything but accept the situation. I can't imagine what would happen if suddenly china sold all that US debt. Again the weaponization of money. The only thing I can think of to prevent this is to build Taiwan's military strength, but even then the USA balks at giving Taiwan everything it asks for. Isolating Taiwan diplomatically, and from international treaties, is the first step, next once high-tech factories have relocated to the USA, Taiwan could be for the taking. Because the US won't really have a reason to keep investing in Taiwan. Politically that is! I also think there is a long-term PR campaign by china where the public won't care.

I think this is interesting or rather telling.

https://wisevoter.com/country-rankings/countries-that-recognize-taiwan/

Honduras is a 3rd world country with the population mass migrating to US. They will align with whoever gives them them the most money. They can’t offer China or Taiwan anything in return.

Money talks. Give it 10 years and Honduras wil be considered the most remote Chinese province.

Why not? Even America recognizes China rather than Taiwan.

Money talks. Give it 10 years and Honduras may have a viable health care or viable public municipal transportation system with the assistance of China.

Bad move for the people of Honduras, but likely a good move for Castro's private bank balance. As Taiwan's foreign ministry put it, "Don’t quench your thirst with poison and fall into China’s debt trap:"

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/16/dont-quench-your-thirst-with-poison-taiwan-tells-honduras-after-switch-to-china

Whilst losing an "official" ally is nominally a setback for Taiwan, these days it has far stronger and more important "unofficial" ties with powerful nations, who can provide it with economic, political and military support:

https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/24/asia/taiwan-diplomatic-allies-support-analysis-intl-hnk-dst/index.html

@Fredrik

The government of ROC is the only legitimate government that represents all of China

The current Tsai administration doesn't claim that - it's a relic of a civil war from decades ago. They see the country as independent and, despite the lack of "official" recognition, it is.

Why not? Even America recognizes China rather than Taiwan.

Well, the current US administration does.

China's clearly intent on playing geopolitics in Uncle Sam's backyard.

Question's when do the go next level, you know some sort of recruitment into their 'regional' pacific military alliance?

Timing's everything, this is early days, pilot program stuff. Real targets Canada, Mexico, just takes enough cash and the right politicians...

Guess Uncle Sam won't have any problem with such a China led military alliance expansion later this century, will they?

Surely, it'll be ok, as it's democracy after all, the will of the people, so crazy war like Russia and not liking NATO expansion to their doorstep!?

China's clearly intent on playing geopolitics in Uncle Sam's backyard.

Question's when do the go next level, you know some sort of recruitment into their 'regional' pacific military alliance?

Timing's everything, this is early days, pilot program stuff. Real targets Canada, Mexico, just takes enough cash and the right politicians...

Guess Uncle Sam won't have any problem with such a China led military alliance expansion later this century, will they?

Surely, it'll be ok, as it's democracy after all, the will of the people, so crazy war like Russia and not liking NATO expansion to their doorstep!?

Playing geopolitics? 181 of 193 United Nations countries recognize the People Republic of China as the sole, legal government of the Chinese people.

Lost in translation ZZR, as everyone knows China's a REAL country, we don't need useless UN to tell us so!

My point is China has a "NATO" military alliance strategy in the works, Canada would be their version of "Ukraine"!

In other related news, Chairman Xi has just granted +1000 social credit points for Honduras.

I wonder how much social credit points has been granted to USA & Japan then, since both of them officially recognize PRC as the true China, and not Taiwan?

Thanks for the laugh, anyway.

China's clearly intent on playing geopolitics in Uncle Sam's backyard.

Uncle Sam's backyard? So Honduras is not a sovereign country who could decide their own policy but must report to their master, the US, everytime they want to do something?

Uncle Sam's backyard? So Honduras is not a sovereign country who could decide their own policy but must report to their master, the US, everytime they want to do something?

Let's not confuse idealism with reality....

Besides, does anyone remember Cuba circa 1962? Wasn't around but the history is fairly clear about this small matter of missiles and sure Uncle Sam was pissed Yuri won the space race too!

deanzaZZRToday  03:44 pm JST

Playing geopolitics? 181 of 193 United Nations countries recognize the People Republic of China as the sole, legal government of the Chinese people.

That's not the same as recognizing Taiwan as part of the People's Republic of China.

Even the United States recognizes the PRC as the legal government of China.

Let's extrapolite, enough of this China stuff already, lets all look out over the horizon!

Not sure what the point of pursuing these tiny countries for recognition is. We all know criminal PRC is the one preventing Taiwan recognition. It doesn't have any bearing on how well the island will be able to kill mainland soldiers and sailors trying to cross over.

That's not the same as recognizing Taiwan as part of the People's Republic of China.

LOL.

"The one-China principle has a clear and unambiguous meaning， i.e. there is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, and the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. "

Any countries who establish diplomatic relationships with China should sign & abide with that One China principle.

Taiwan's smart, semiconductor crown jewel being 're-shored' to US, that's their PLAY, China makes a move and it's GONZO, Uncle Sam's in the Fab "HOUSE"!

The US can walk it back, but this is what was proclaimed in 1972. "The US side declared: The United States acknowledges that all Chinese on either side of the Taiwan Strait maintain there is but one China and that Taiwan is a part of China. The United States Government does not challenge that position. It reaffirms its interest in a peaceful settlement of the Taiwan question by the Chinese themselves." Shanghai Comminuqe, 1972.

Sound great. Find a peaceful solution and Yankee stay out.

"The one-China principle has a clear and unambiguous meaning， i.e. there is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, and the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. "

Stop leaving out the bit that the US "acknowledges that Chinese on either side of the Taiwan Strait maintain there is but one China". That stopped being true about 1960 I imagine, so it is clear it no longer needs to apply.

the US et al will economically be unable to do anything but accept the situation.

Fortunately the US blockade runners and escorts will be moving long before people can complain about economics. Taiwan itself would probably start shooting if under blockade.

I can't imagine what would happen if suddenly china sold all that US debt.

That would hurt China's currency if they lost what allows them to keep it artificially low.

Well, the current US administration does.

You think Surrender Donald would recognize Taiwan? He'd be far to busy trying to setup his dictatorship to start anything.

Timing's everything, this is early days, pilot program stuff. Real targets Canada, Mexico, just takes enough cash and the right politicians...

You could try getting a five eyes member to join a dictatorship fan club, but I suspect it would take you until the sun explodes. Mexico is basket case I agree, but even they wouldn't want sanctions on their largest trading partner. Let's just face it: China ain't got no friends, just countries it has paid for a good time.

Sound great. Find a peaceful solution and Yankee stay out.

Again, sounds great but not realistic, best pathway for world is clearly merit based solutions that enhance global shared values.

Thing is talent's what matters, so if you're just brutal dictator and/or pushing mind control brainwashing, you've got no long term 'engines', brain drain baby!

Reason Elon Musk can meet with Xi anytime anywhere? Read above, Governments are impotent without talent, just look who's leading the space race, AI, etc.

Taiwan is part of China. My Taiwanese friends would disagree.

Earth's only temporarily so all 'property rights' will cease at some point, so let's all agree to build a better future together!

It isn't going to happen if we're blowing each other up!

Is there any English media reporting Honduras has sent Hull-note to Taiwan demanding economic cooperation beforehand? It's like it chose Chinese bullet train over Japanese one and regret a lot later.

 Find a peaceful solution and Yankee stay out.

We're under no obligation to stay out if one side calls for assistance or the other side is preventing maritime commerce. The peaceful solution is the status quo.

Darius R.Today  04:27 pm JST

That's not the same as recognizing Taiwan as part of the People's Republic of China.

LOL.

Laugh all you want but that is the official US position. They are not one and the same.

@wallace: Utter poppycock.

My wife is Taiwanese and despises everything that the PRC stands for.

And although Taiwan is officially recgonised by less countries than ever, more countries than ever have 'culture offices' or 'trade offices' in Taipei acting as de facto embassies.

sounds like Honduras is looking for that Chinese cash....

theResident

@wallace: Utter poppycock.

> My wife is Taiwanese and despises everything that the PRC stands for.

You misunderstood. Xi & Putin say Taiwan is China. My Taiwanese would disagree.

deanzaZZRToday  04:34 pm JST

The US can walk it back, but this is what was proclaimed in 1972. "The US side declared: The United States acknowledges that all Chinese on either side of the Taiwan Strait maintain there is but one China and that Taiwan is a part of China. The United States Government does not challenge that position. It reaffirms its interest in a peaceful settlement of the Taiwan question by the Chinese themselves." Shanghai Comminuqe, 1972.

That's the Chinese text. The US merely acknowledges China's positionon Taiwan, but does not agree with it.

"To this day, the U.S. “one China” position stands: the United States recognizes the PRC as the sole legal government of China but only acknowledges the Chinese position that Taiwan is part of China. Thus, the United States maintains formal relations with the PRC and has unofficial relations with Taiwan. The “one China” policy has subsequently been reaffirmed by every new incoming U.S. administration. The existence of this understanding has enabled the preservation of stability in the Taiwan Strait, allowing both Taiwan and mainland China to pursue their extraordinary political and socioeconomic transitions in relative peace."

https://www.csis.org/analysis/what-us-one-china-policy-and-why-does-it-matter

"US State Department Website Removes "Taiwan Is Part Of China" Reference"

https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/us-state-department-website-deletes-taiwan-is-part-of-china-reference-2963338

$$$$$$ Talk, Promises Walk.

Taiwan is NOT a nation but a renegade province. At most it is a de facto authority existing some part within a recognised nation. Hondarus is just doing something normal. By the way, Taiwan also giving money to these Latin America nation's for diplomacy.

Does US or E.U. countries recognise the Palestinian authority is a nation? NO!

Because the "P.A." is a de facto regime existing inside the state of Israel.

America put a lot of money and weapons into the decades long effort to construct a facade of democracy for the cult that fled mainland China and invaded the island of Taipei. The irony of them succeeding and it not mattering to the vast majority of the world at a time when over 90% of the countries of the world are democracies (the US efforts to construct facades of dictatorship over a dozen or more democracies might fool those who look at everything from the fixed point of Washington DC, but the illusion collapses quickly even in the short distance from there to the University of Maryland's Center for International and Security Studies) bodes poorly for its efforts to construct one around Zelensky. When China decides it is going to enforce cabotage rules based on Taipei being a part of China, it might not even be possible to find a 'flag of convenience' to register a freighter in that doesn't recognize that truth.

They surely acted in Honduras out of some acute needs or longer economic interests. How much pocket money has China paid for that decision? Anyway, if there’s any question in the style of hen or egg, then just have a look at who signed the UN Charta at the foundation. Hint, it wasn’t the PRC, but a country that suddenly isn’t considered now a country by some.