Taiwan has announced it has recalled its ambassador to Honduras to protest the visit of the head of Honduran diplomacy to China.
“Honduras ignored more than 80 years of friendship between (Taiwan and Honduras) by sending its foreign minister to China, which seriously hurt the feelings of our government and people,” Taiwan’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
“We have decided to recall our ambassador to Honduras immediately to express our deep dissatisfaction,” the text adds.
The announcement came after Honduran Foreign Minister Eduardo Enrique Reina visited China to discuss establishing diplomatic relations with Beijing.
China claims the democratic and self-governing island of Taiwan as part of its territory, which it intends to retake, using force if necessary.
On March 14, the Central American country, through its President Xiomara Castro, announced that it would establish “official relations with the People’s Republic of China.”
In the name of the “one China” principle, the communist power in Beijing does not accept diplomatic relations with either China or Taipei. Any recognition by a country of the People’s Republic of China will result in a de facto severing of ties between China and Taiwan.
If Honduras officially breaks with Taiwan, the island would be left with just 13 countries with which it maintains official diplomatic relations, having lost several Latin American allies in recent years.
The Honduran foreign minister traveled to China with Deputy Xiomara Zelaya, President Castro’s daughter, three government and diplomatic officials told AFP on condition of anonymity.
“The minister went there (…) on the orders of President Xiomara Castro,” President Rodolfo Pastor told local daily El Heraldo.
He added that the Honduran delegation will be received by Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang.
China’s foreign ministry has not confirmed the visit, but on Thursday spokesman Wang Wenbin said China is “ready” to establish ties with Honduras.