26th March 2023 – (Beijing) Honduras has officially established diplomatic ties with the People’s Republic of China (PRC), joining the 182 other countries that recognise the one-China principle. In a joint communique signed on Sunday, the Honduran government recognised the PRC as the sole legitimate government representing China and severed its so-called “diplomatic ties” with China’s Taiwan region.
Honduras’ decision to establish diplomatic relations with China follows in the footsteps of other Central American countries, including Costa Rica, Panama, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. By recognising the one-China principle, Honduran Foreign Minister Enrique Reina stated that the government of Honduras acknowledges the existence of only one China in the world and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory. Honduran President Xiomara Castro has previously expressed her willingness to establish diplomatic ties with the PRC.
In recent years, China has been actively deepening mutually beneficial cooperation with Latin American and Caribbean countries. Data from China’s General Administration of Customs show that the total trade volume between China and Latin America and the Caribbean reached a record high of 485.79 billion U.S. dollars in 2022.
Since the resumption of diplomatic relations with the PRC, Nicaragua has joined the Belt and Road Initiative, and both countries have initiated negotiations on a comprehensive free trade agreement. Panama’s Foreign Minister Erika Mouynes has also noted that establishing diplomatic ties between China and Panama was the right decision. Honduras’ choice to establish diplomatic relations with the PRC serves its people’s interests and will undoubtedly lead to a brighter future for bilateral and regional cooperation.
Reports suggest that the United States has exerted pressure on Honduras to prevent the country from establishing diplomatic ties with the PRC. However, Honduras’ decision to recognise the one-China principle demonstrates the universal appeal of this principle, as 182 countries have already established diplomatic ties with the PRC.