Why China’s Nicaragua move is as much about the US as it is about Taiwan

When Managua switched its diplomatic allegiance from Taipei to Beijing on Friday, mainland China boosted its influence in the US’ backyard, say observers

The announcement came on the same day as the US State Department slapped sanctions on a national security adviser to Nicaraguan President Ortega

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In 2007, Taiwan and Nicaragua relations were solid as students in Managua hold flags representing both nations at a farewell ceremony for then Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian. Photo: AP Photo

Published: 8:37pm, 10 Dec 2021

Beijing’s wooing of Taiwan’s ally Nicaragua on Friday is not just retaliation for the island’s independence efforts but it is also a sign of intensifying rivalry between China and the US in America’s own backyard, according to observers.

Nicaragua brings to four the number of Central American nations that have established formal relations with Beijing in recent years, following Panama in 2017 and El Salvador in 2018. The Dominican Republic in the Caribbean also switched to Beijing in 2018.

Honduras may be next, with president-elect Xiamara Castro indicating she may switch ties to Beijing after claiming victory in last month’s election.

Li Da-jung, professor of international relations and strategic studies at Tamkang University in Taipei, said the US was facing a rival for influence in the region.

“Beijing has in the past few years wooed away four … Taiwan allies ... in Latin America. This definitely will help increase its influence in this part of America which is considered the US backyard,” he said.

The US has long been concerned about increasing Chinese influence in the region. When El Salvador established ties with Beijing, its officials warned about China’s intentions to turn the La Union commercial port in El Salvador’s east into a “military base”.