By Daniel Nardini
Guatemala’s ambassador to the Republic of China on Taiwan presented his letter of credentials before Ministry of Foreign Affairs head Lin Chia-lung. The new Guatemalan ambassador, Luis Raul Estevez Lopez, was sent by his country to foster close relations with Taiwan amid the uncertainty of Taiwan’s losing allies and diplomatic relations to China. China, known officially as the People’s Republic of China, is officially recognized by almost every country in the world. In contrast, Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China, is only recognized by twelve nations in the world. Relations between Guatemala and the Republic of China were established as far back as 1924. The Republic of China at that time existed in China itself, and this is well before the conflict between the ruling Nationalist Party of China of the Republic of China at the time and the Chinese Communist rebels which began in 1927.
Eventually the conflict between the Nationalists and Communists continued until the Nationalists lost and were driven from China itself and the Chinese Communists took over all of mainland China where they rule to this day. The Republic of China continues to this day on Taiwan, and Guatemala is just one of twelve countries that recognize Taiwan only. In the case of Central America, only Guatemala and Belize recognize Taiwan. All of the rest of Central America recognize China. Taiwan is doing all it can to keep diplomatic relations with those countries it still has in its orbit. China is most certainly trying to break Guatemala and Belize away from Taiwan. So far, China has been unsuccessful in prying away Guatemala and Belize from Taiwan. The reason why China wants both Guatemala and Belize is the same reason why it now has every other country in Central America—to be able to supply huge monetary investments in Central America, extract Central America’s resources, and if possible put in Chinese military bases in the region.
The latter is significant. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is playing right into China’s hands. By threatening to conduct massive deportations of hundreds of thousands of Hondurans from the United States at a time when Honduras can ill afford to take back this many of its own people, the Honduran government under the left-wing government of Xiomara Castro has threatened to close the U.S. Soto Cano Air Base. If this happens, then not only will the U.S. government have greater problems fighting illegal drugs being brought into the United States, but the Castro government could easily give this air base to China. With a Chinese military base in Central America, it could threaten the whole security of the United States. Already the Chinese government is pouring in U.S. $275 million in investments into Honduras with an economic agreement between the two countries. Honduras broke relations with Taiwan in 2023 after Castro was elected in Honduras. China is also actively engaged in trying to make Guatemala and Belize break relations with Taiwan as well; under the nose of Trump. If this succeeds, then not only all of Central America could be in China’s hands but become a threat to the United States. All it needs is for Trump and the Republican Party to commit one fatal error that could change the course.
The New Guatemalan Ambassador to Taiwan
By Daniel Nardini
Eventually the conflict between the Nationalists and Communists continued until the Nationalists lost and were driven from China itself and the Chinese Communists took over all of mainland China where they rule to this day. The Republic of China continues to this day on Taiwan, and Guatemala is just one of twelve countries that recognize Taiwan only. In the case of Central America, only Guatemala and Belize recognize Taiwan. All of the rest of Central America recognize China. Taiwan is doing all it can to keep diplomatic relations with those countries it still has in its orbit. China is most certainly trying to break Guatemala and Belize away from Taiwan. So far, China has been unsuccessful in prying away Guatemala and Belize from Taiwan. The reason why China wants both Guatemala and Belize is the same reason why it now has every other country in Central America—to be able to supply huge monetary investments in Central America, extract Central America’s resources, and if possible put in Chinese military bases in the region.
The latter is significant. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is playing right into China’s hands. By threatening to conduct massive deportations of hundreds of thousands of Hondurans from the United States at a time when Honduras can ill afford to take back this many of its own people, the Honduran government under the left-wing government of Xiomara Castro has threatened to close the U.S. Soto Cano Air Base. If this happens, then not only will the U.S. government have greater problems fighting illegal drugs being brought into the United States, but the Castro government could easily give this air base to China. With a Chinese military base in Central America, it could threaten the whole security of the United States. Already the Chinese government is pouring in U.S. $275 million in investments into Honduras with an economic agreement between the two countries. Honduras broke relations with Taiwan in 2023 after Castro was elected in Honduras. China is also actively engaged in trying to make Guatemala and Belize break relations with Taiwan as well; under the nose of Trump. If this succeeds, then not only all of Central America could be in China’s hands but become a threat to the United States. All it needs is for Trump and the Republican Party to commit one fatal error that could change the course.