Nicaragua has switched diplomatic ties from Taiwan to China, breaking a decades-long allegiance with the democratic island in favour of the world’s second-largest economy.
Denis Moncada Colindres, the Nicaraguan foreign minister, declared in a televised address that Taiwan, a self-ruled island that China claims as its own, was an “inalienable part of the Chinese territory”. He said: “The People’s Republic of China is the only legitimate government that represents all of China.”
Nicaragua has had diplomatic relations with Taiwan since the 1990s, making it one of only a dozen allies that recognised the island as a country. The two nations signed a free trade agreement that came into force in 2008.
Beijing’s deal with Nicaragua was signed on a trip by the finance minister and two of President Ortega’s sons to the northern Chinese city of Tianjin. China said that Nicaragua made “the right choice” by declaring that it would have no contact with Taiwan.
Taiwan expressed “deep regret” and blamed Ortega for disregarding the two nations’ “long-standing friendship” and “successful co-operation”. President Tsai tweeted: “I would like to stress that no amount of external pressure can shake our commitment to freedom, human rights [and] the rule of law.”
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Taiwan has received growing support in recent months from EU member states including Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Lithuania, which have welcomed delegations or sent official visits.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry said on Twitter that China had “induced” Nicaragua to sever diplomatic ties as a response to being snubbed by President Biden’s Summit For Democracy, which was held by video this week.
The island’s representatives, including its de facto ambassador to the United States, Hsiao Bi-khim, and the digital minister, Audrey Tang, participated alongside those from more than 100 countries and global institutions. The guest list excluded officials from Nicaragua, Russia and China, drawing ire from Chinese officials.
Last weekend China’s State Council released a 30-page white paper called China: Democracy That Works, extolling the country’s political system. Officials and state media employees have criticised the American government on social media in what some observers have called a propaganda blitz.
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Since October Beijing has used warplanes to make regular military incursions into Taiwan’s https://www.thetimes.com/article/beijing-warns-of-war-as-record-number-of-jets-enter-taiwans-airspace-2g8c8wm53 air defence identification zonehttps://www.thetimes.com/article/beijing-warns-of-war-as-record-number-of-jets-enter-taiwans-airspace-2g8c8wm53 near to its airspace — including 13 Chinese air force jets today.
“Taiwan remains unbowed,” its foreign ministry said.
