The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement at noon on Sunday (March 26), pointing out that Foreign Minister Qin Gang and Honduran Foreign Minister Enrique Reina signed a joint communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations, which mentioned that Honduras recognizes that there is only one China in the world, the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing the whole of China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory.
The statement stressed that Honduras severed diplomatic relations with Taiwan on the same day and promised not to have any official relations with Taiwan and not to conduct any official exchanges.
Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Honduras issued a statement dated the 25th at 8 a.m. on Sunday (March 26), announcing the severance of diplomatic relations with Taiwan. This also leaves only 13 so-called "countries with diplomatic relations" in Taiwan.
After Honduras established diplomatic relations with China, what other "countries with diplomatic relations" does Taiwan have?
Guatemala
Latin America has the highest concentration of "countries with diplomatic relations" with Taiwan, with a total of 8. Bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Mexico to the north, Guatemala is one of the centers of ancient Mayan culture. It has a population of 11.24 million and its capital is Guatemala City. The inhabitants are mostly Catholic, and the official language is Spanish. In 1933, diplomatic relations were established with the Republic of China.
Paraguay
Paraguay is a landlocked country in South America, with an area of 410,000 square kilometers and a population of 6.64 million, with its capital city in Asunción and its official language being Spanish. Agriculture is the main pillar of the country's economy, and the Paraguayan national football team is a strong force in South America. In 1957, diplomatic relations with Taiwan were established. Paraguay will hold a presidential election in April 2023, and opposition candidates have said that if elected, they will consider severing diplomatic relations with Taiwan and establishing diplomatic relations with China instead.
Belize
Also known as Belize, formerly known as British Honduras, is located on the east coast of Central America. It is the least populous and least densely populated Central American country.
St. Vincent
The full name is "Saint Vincent and the Grenadines", abbreviated as Saint Vincent, located in Latin America, and has established diplomatic relations with the Taiwan authorities since 1981.
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Also known as Saint Kitts and Nevis, it is located in the Caribbean Sea. In May 2018, when Taiwan was denied participation in the World Health Assembly (WHA), representatives of St. Kitts and Nevis met with Taiwan's Minister of Health and Welfare and supported Taiwan's participation in the Assembly.
Haiti
Haiti is a Caribbean island nation with an area of 28,000 square kilometers and a population of 10.7 million, with the capital Port-au-Prince, and its official languages are French and Haitian. Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world. After the devastating earthquake of 2010, Haiti's economy depended in part on the assistance of the international community. In 1956, diplomatic relations with Taiwan were established.
Saint Lucia
Also translated as Saint Lucia, it is a volcanic island country located in the Caribbean Sea. It established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China in 1997 and severed diplomatic relations with Taiwan. It later resumed diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 2007.
Swatini
Swaziland is located in southeastern Africa, bordering Mozambique to the east and South Africa to the rest.Eswatini It has an area of 17,400 square kilometers and a population of 1.3 million. The official languages are English and Swati, and the economy is largely dependent on South Africa. In 1968, diplomatic relations with Taiwan were established.
Palau
Located in the western Pacific, it established diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 1999.
Marshall Islands
The Marshall Islands is an island nation located in the central Pacific Ocean, consisting of more than 1,000 islands and reefs, covering an area of 181 square kilometers, with a population of 53,000, mainly Micronesians, and the official languages are English and Marshallese. It became independent from the United States in 1986 and established diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 1998.
Republic of Nowu
Also translated as Nauru, it is an island country located in the central South Pacific Ocean, with an area of 24 square kilometers and a population of 10,200. Nauru was occupied by Japan during World War II, and after the war it was jointly hosted by Australia, the United Kingdom and New Zealand, and officially became independent in 1968. It established diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 1980, severed diplomatic relations in 2003, and resumed diplomatic relations in 2005.
Tuvalu
Tuvalu is located in the South Pacific Ocean and consists of nine atoll-shaped coral island groups, with a land area of about 26 square kilometers and a population of 11,000. In 1979, diplomatic relations with Taiwan were established. Tuvalu, which reaches up to 4.5 metres above sea level, is seriously threatened by rising sea levels. In 2001, the country's leaders said in a statement that the country's residents would be gradually evacuated and the whole country would be relocated to New Zealand because of the fate of being swallowed by the sea.
Vatican City
The Vatican is Taiwan's only diplomatic state in Europe. Located in the city of Rome, the Vatican has an area of only 0.44 square kilometers and is known as the country within the city and is the seat of the Catholic Holy See. In 1942, diplomatic relations were established with the Republic of China.