Nicaragua cuts ties with Taiwan and pivots to China

Nicaragua has switched diplomatic allegiance to China, leaving Taiwan with just 14 governments around the world that formally recognise it as a country. The announcement, made on Thursday by the Central American country’s foreign ministry, also recognised Beijing’s claim over Taiwan as a Chinese province, a dispute which is at the heart of escalating tensions in the region.

“The government of the Republic of Nicaragua today breaks diplomatic relations with Taiwan and ceases to have any contact or official relationship,” said the statement issued in Spanish and English. “The People’s Republic of China is the only legitimate government that represents all of China and Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory.”

The Taiwan government expressed “heartfelt pain and regret” over Nicaragua’s “unilateral” decision and accused the Daniel Ortega-led government of disregarding a “longstanding and close friendship” between the two peoples.

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