Nicaragua has cut ties with Taiwan in favour of China, which has angered Washington, which is seeking to push back Beijing’s growing influence in Central America.

Nicaragua on Thursday (December 16) broke its longstanding diplomatic ties with Taiwan, switching allegiance to Beijing in a recognition of the Chinese Communist party’s ‘One China’ policy and reducing Taipei’s dwindling pool of international allies.

“The government of the Republic of Nicaragua today breaks diplomatic relations with Taiwan and ceases to have any contact or official relationship,” the foreign ministry said in a statement issued in Spanish and English.

The United States is trying hard to boost economies in Central America in its bid to stop migration but analysts say Washington’s sanctions on the region’s ‘dictatorial regimes’ are increasingly pushing them ‘into the hands of China’.

China is also responding favourably to this move by Nicaragua sending one million doses of coronavirus vaccines to the Central American country.

Nicaragua’s decision to part company with Taiwan in favour of China is seen as surprising to Washington, as the move comes days after America called for democratic countries to “expand engagement” with Taiwan.

Analysts say Honduras could follow Nicaragua as Honduran’ president-elect, Xiomara Castro, has repeatedly vowed during the election campaign that the government she leads would end the relationship with Taiwan.

Honduras is set to become the third Central American country to switch allegiance from Taiwan with El Salvador being the first to do so over a year ago.

Since then El Salvador has been rolling out the red carpet welcoming Chinese companies. Reuters reported recently that China has made US$500 million in investments in El Salvador.

Within Central America, only Guatemala and Belize still recognise and maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

The Government of Panama broke diplomatic ties with Taiwan back in June 2017 and has since been working closely with China. Taiwan, known unofficially as the Republic of China, broke diplomatic ties with Costa Rica in June 2007, after the Central American country formally established diplomatic ties with the People’s Republic of China.