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Honduras breaks diplomatic ties with Taiwan: Foreign Ministry

Honduras officially opened an embassy in China on Sunday, months after the Central American country switched its diplomatic allegiance from Taipei to Beijing. China considers self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to take control of the island one day. It does not allow countries to recognise both Beijing and Taipei and has in recent years lured away many of Taiwan's allies using economic incentives. "The relations between Honduras and China will open new opportunities and capabilities to strengthen the cooperation between both countries," Honduran Foreign Minister Enrique Reina told Chinese state media after a ceremony unveiling a plaque for the new embassy. Honduran President Xiomara Castro arrived in Shanghai on Friday for a five-day visit to cement the relationship and will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Castro is expected to sign a host of agreements during her visit. Reina said earlier this month that China had already opened the door to imports of melons, shrimp, bananas and other Honduran products. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang attended the ceremony on Sunday, the official Xinhua news agency said, shaking hands with Reina in front of a row of Chinese and Honduran flags. In March, Honduras cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favour of Beijing. The switch reduced the number of countries that diplomatically recognise Taipei to just 13. China opened an embassy in the Honduran capital Tegucigalpa this week.
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Honduras announced on Saturday that it has broken off diplomatic relations with Taiwan, 11 days after saying it would establish diplomatic ties with China.

Foreign Minister Enrique Reina said that upon instructions from President Xiomara Castro he “has communicated to Taiwan the decision to cease diplomatic relations,” a ministry statement said.

The announcement comes two days after Reina’s trip to Beijing to discuss the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties.

China considers self-ruled democratic Taiwan as a part of its territory, to be retaken one day — by force, if necessary.

Earlier this month Castro ordered Reina to establish diplomatic relations with China, a move that would sever its ties with Taiwan.

“The government of the Republic of Honduras recognizes the existence of only one China in the world, and that the government of the People’s Republic of China is the only legitimate government that represents all of China,” the Honduras Foreign Ministry said Saturday.

“Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory,” it said.

“As of this date, the government of Honduras has communicated to Taiwan the rupture of diplomatic relations, committing to no longer having any relationship or contact of an official nature with Taiwan,” it added.

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Agence France-Presse (AFP) is a French international news agency headquartered in Paris, France. Founded in 1835 as Havas, it is the world's oldest news agency.







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