China considers Taiwan a part of its territory, and opposes other countries’ official exchanges with the self-ruled island as well as its participation in international organisations.
On Monday, the Central American Parliament (Parlacen) – a regional body with six member states – passed a proposal by Nicaragua to remove Taiwan as a permanent observer and replace it with China.
“The dictatorship of Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua is willing to become a pawn of China … to manipulate the fallacy of the so-called ‘one-China principle’ and seize our rights in the Parlacen,” Taiwan’s foreign ministry said in a statement Tuesday.
The Parlacen decision marks Taiwan’s latest diplomatic setback after Honduras severed official relations with the island to recognise China in March.
Taipei’s removal “is proof of the expansion of authoritarianism in Latin America”, Taiwan foreign ministry spokesman Jeff Liu told reporters.
“China and Nicaragua are notorious authoritarian countries … It is an attack not only on Taiwan but also on the global democratic countries’ camp.”
The ministry said it would “withdraw” from Parlacen to protect Taiwan’s “sovereignty and dignity”.
Liu said the Parlacen removal will not affect Taiwan’s participation in two other regional organisations: the Central American Bank for Economic Integration and the Central American Integration System.
Source: CNA
