Breaking Diplomatic Relations With China After 82 Years, The Countries Defending Taiwan While Challenging.

Alliance with China

There are typically 14 flags flying outside an unidentified structure on the banks of a waterway in Taipei, one for each of Taiwan’s friends. However, the Honduran banner was taken down from the location, which is home to foreign outposts, last week. Now, only 13 are left. The bar was lowered after Honduran President Xiomara Castro declared on Twitter that she would fulfill campaign vows to break diplomatic relations with Taiwan after 82 years and form an alliance with China.

Honduras was having financial difficulties, according to the nation’s foreign minister, and Taiwan had not responded to a request to renegotiate $600 million in debt or boost financial assistance. Taiwan accused Honduras of requesting more than $2 billion and encouraged it not to support China to “quench your thirst with poison.”

Breaking diplomatic relations with China after 82 Years, The Countries Defending Taiwan While Challenging. — Image Credit: The Guardian

China is considered to be loyal

Since Tsai Ing-wen took office as president in 2016, nine nations have shifted their loyalty to China, and Beijing has stepped up its efforts to formally isolate Taiwan. There are now only 13 official foreign partners. They carry a hefty burden, and they risk paying a high price if they do not support China, which forbids its partners from recognizing Taiwan.

Belize, Guatemala, Haiti, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, and the Grenadines are Taiwan’s last surviving friends in the Americas. It is still acknowledged in the Pacific by the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, and Tuvalu. Its only friend in Africa is Eswatini, and its only supporter in Europe is Vatican City.

Until they resolve to change, the allies, who are mainly small or emerging countries, are typically talked about rather than to. The focus is primarily on Taiwan’s “like-minded partners,” which are strong nations like the US that assist without official acknowledgment. The Guardian had exclusive talks with four of the Taipei-based representatives. Others refused, didn’t answer inquiries, or couldn’t be satisfied by the date. A scheduled interview with Honduras was postponed after the layoff was revealed.

have a look at this video: Honduras ends diplomatic ties with Taiwan, establishes relations with China | World News | WION

China in the UN security council

Each nation’s history, goals, and reasons for choosing Taiwan as a friend are unique. The motivations can vary from monetary gain to firmly held beliefs in the value of national integrity and cooperation among minor nations. The Caribbean country, which has a population of about 104,000, established an office in Taipei in 2019 and, along with China, became the tiniest country ever to hold a seat on the UN security council. In retaliation for US House speaker Nancy Pelosi’s travel to Taiwan in August of last year, its prime minister, Ralph Gonsalves, paid a call there while China was conducting live-fire military drills.

According to Tuvalu’s ambassador, Bikenibau Paeniu, the profoundly Christian nation was leery of the communists when it made its choice to support Taiwan in 1979. He held the position of the prime minister of Tuvalu three times, and he claims that his appointment with Taiwan is evidence of the importance of the alliance.

But Paeniu is also open about the economics of the current political partnership. He points out that, unlike China, the government of Taiwan gives generous grants rather than debts that must be returned. St. Lucia has established diplomatic relations with Taiwan twice; most recently, in 2007, after Taiwan increased its aid and support. Dr. Robert Kennedy Lewis, its envoy, claims that although his government would claim that its foreign policy is not about the top bidder, Taiwan is now its largest grant aid donor.

Taiwan increased its assistance to friendly countries and foreign allies to $502 million in 2020 from $302 million in 2018, and it frequently finances particular development initiatives for friends in Latin America and Africa. For hundreds of its students each year, all of its partners have access to complete higher education grants. Many people have access to healthcare services and domestic medical care for their Pacific neighbors.