Top Asian News 3:52 a.m. GMT

Honduras forms diplomatic ties with China after Taiwan break

BEIJING (AP) — Honduras formed diplomatic ties with China on Sunday after breaking off relations with Taiwan, which is now recognized by only 13 sovereign states, including Vatican City. The announcement reported by Chinese state media CCTV came after the Honduran and Taiwanese governments made separate announcements that they were severing ties. “The government of the Republic of Honduras recognizes the existence of only one China in the world and that the government of the People’s Republic of China is the only legitimate government that represents all of China,” Honduras's Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted on Twitter. It added that “Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory, and as of today, the Honduran government has informed Taiwan of the severance of diplomatic relations, pledging not to have any official relationship or contact with Taiwan.” Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said Sunday that Taiwan had ended its relations with Honduras to “safeguard its sovereignty and dignity." Wu said that Honduras President Xiomara Castro and her team always had a “fantasy” about China and had raised the issue of switching ties before the presidential election in Honduras in 2021.