Honduras: Honduras has ended its decades-long diplomatic ties with Taiwan, paving the way for the Central American country to begin a formal relationship with China.

The Honduras Foreign Ministry posted on Twitter that “the government of Honduras recognises the existence of just one China in the world. And the government of the People’s Republic of China is the only legitimate government that represents all of China.”

“Taiwan is an inseparable part of Chinese territory,” the statement added.

According to the statement, Honduras had notified Taiwan of its decision to break ties and that it would not return to having any relationship or official contact with Taipei. The move leaves Taiwan recognised by only 13 sovereign states.

Honduras’s ending of relations with Taiwan had been long expected after the Honduran Foreign Minister travelled to China recently to open relations and President Xiomara Castro stated that her government would start ties with Beijing.

China has yet to comment on the Honduran announcement on cutting Taiwan ties.

At a news conference in Taipei, Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Mr. Joseph Wu confirmed the severing of ties and remarked that it would close its embassy in Honduras and withdraw its ambassador there.

According to Mr. Wu, Ms. Castro and her government had “always had illusions” about China.

“The foreign ministry and embassy grasped the relevant information and handled it carefully. However, the Castro government also asked us for billions of dollars in huge economic assistance and compared prices for assistance programmes provided by Taiwan and China,” Mr. Wu observed.

WORLD ROUNDUP: Israel Governing body approves law limiting conditions for current PM removal