Choose Loyal To Beijing And Cut Diplomatic Ties Taiwan, Nicaragua: PRC The Only Legitimate Government

Illustration of the flags of China and Taiwan. (Source: Stanford News.edu)

JAKARTA - Nicaragua's government severed its long-standing diplomatic ties with Taiwan, shifting allegiance to Beijing in recognition of the Chinese Communist Party's One China policy on Thursday, reducing Taipei's dwindling pool of international allies.

"The government of the Republic of Nicaragua today severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan and no longer has any official contacts or relations," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement issued in Spanish and English.

"The People's Republic of China is the only legitimate government that represents all of China, and Taiwan is an inseparable part of Chinese territory," he added.

State media of the Bamboo Curtain country said government representatives from China and Nicaragua would hold talks in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin on Friday.

Taiwan responded quickly to this, expressing "pain and regret" over the decision. Says that the president of the Central American country, Daniel Ortega, has ignored the friendship between the people of Taiwan and Nicaragua. But the Taiwanese government has also expressed defiance.

"As a member of the international community, Taiwan has the right to exchange and develop diplomatic relations with other countries," said Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In addition, Taiwan will continue to promote 'pragmatic diplomacy' to expand its international space, while striving to achieve Taiwan's 'international status'.

Previously, China said Taiwan was one of its provinces that did not have the right to state status, increasing pressure to win over Taiwan's remaining allies, especially in Central America and the Caribbean, with El Salvador and the Dominican Republic 'oriented' to Beijing in 2018, and Panama in 2018. previously.

Separately, China's Ambassador to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, congratulated Nicaragua.

"We highly commend the correct decision made by the Government of Nicaragua, which is in line with current trends and the aspirations of the people," he wrote on Twitter.

"The One-China Principle is a consensus widely accepted by the international community and does not allow any challenge."

One Taiwan-based diplomatic source, familiar with the region, said the move was not surprising, given Washington's lack of influence with Ortega due to sanctions, and seeking help and support to China was a natural course of action.

"It seems Ortega is fed up," the source told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Nicaragua's move leaves Taiwan with only 14 formal diplomatic allies, most of them in Latin America and the Caribbean, plus a few smaller nations.

It also follows threats by forthcoming Honduran leaders to cut ties with Taipei. However, since last month's Honduran election, the team around future President Xiomara Castro have stepped down from that position.

Prior to Nicaragua, Taiwan lost two consecutive allies in September 2019, when the Solomon Islands and Kiribati also turned to Beijing.