Nicaragua cuts diplomatic ties with Taiwan for China

The move, lauded by Beijing, further shrinks Taiwan’s dwindling pool of international allies

BEIJING: China on Friday welcomed the Central American country Nicaragua’s decision to break off ties with the self-ruled democracy, Taiwan, and resume diplomatic relationship with the mainland, saying it is the “right choice in line with the global trend”.

Nicaragua on Thursday broke its longstanding diplomatic ties with Taiwan, switching allegiance to Beijing in a recognition of the Communist Party of China’s (CPC) “One China policy”, which acknowledges that there is only one China, the mainland or the People’s Republic of China (PRC), and Taiwan is part of it. Only 14 countries now have official ties with Taiwan, a rapidly reducing pool of international allies in the face of China’s expanding economic and diplomatic heft; Belize, Guatemala, Honduras are the three remaining allies Taipei has in Central America.

The Chinese foreign ministry was quick to welcome the decision. “This is the right choice that is in line with the global trend and has people’s support. China highly appreciates this decision,” it said.

US sanctions Xinjiang leaders for rights abuse

The US hit two ethnic Uighur political leaders in China’s Xinjiang region with sanctions on Friday, and blacklisted a company that developed facial recognition software, accusing them of participation in sweeping human rights abuses.

The US Treasury named Shohrat Zakir, the chairman of the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region of China from at least 2018 to 2021, and Erken Tuniyaz, current acting chairman of the region to its sanctions list.

It also singled out artificial intelligence company SenseTime Group, saying its software has been used in China’s operations to identify and control Uighurs in the Xinjiang region.

{ TSAI ING-WEN } TAIWAN PRESIDENT

The more successful Taiwan’s democracy is, the stronger the international support, and the greater the pressure from the authoritarian

camp.