The Nicaraguan government led by former Sandinista guerrilla Daniel Ortega, a former ally of Taiwan, has announced that it recognizes China as a single country. “The government of the Republic of Nicaragua declares that it recognizes that there is only one China in the world,” he announced. “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.”
Until now Nicaragua was among the 17 countries that had recognized Taiwan as an independent state. “The government of the Republic of Nicaragua breaks off diplomatic relations with Taiwan from today and ceases any contact or official relationship”, reads a statement by Foreign Minister Denis Moncada. Historically, relations between Nicaragua and China or Tawian have been intermittent, but since 1990 Managua has sided with the island which has so far been the most important bilateral donor to the Central American country, of which it has financed about thirty projects in agriculture worth between $ 30 million and $ 50 million, according to data from the Nicaraguan government.
Nicaragua, one of the three poorest countries on the American continent, has taken the decision to recognize China at a time when the Organization of American States is considering suspending it for “breaking the constitutional order” and after renouncing to belong to it. , a decision that will take effect in November 2023.