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Taiwan
ChinaDiplomacy

Taiwan may be about to lose more diplomatic ground to Beijing in Central America amid Nicaragua’s proposal

  • Nicaragua has proposed that the regional parliament, Parlacen, cancel Taipei’s permanent observer status and replace it with Beijing
  • Guatemala is the island’s only ally in the body, but that could change if a pro-Beijing candidate wins the country’s presidential run-off

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Taiwan has been a permanent observer at the Central American Parliament, based in Guatemala City, since 1999. Photo: Shutterstock Images
Lawrence Chungin Taipei
Taiwan is facing a new diplomatic challenge, with a move to revoke its permanent observer status at the Central American Parliament to make way for Beijing.
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The proposal – made by Nicaragua – comes as Taipei is keeping a wary eye on next month’s presidential run-off in Guatemala, where a contender has promised closer ties with Beijing if elected.

Taiwan’s diplomatic presence in Central America could be largely wiped out if it loses both observer status in the regional body and formal recognition from Guatemala, one of its few remaining allies.

The parliament, known as Parlacen, is based in Guatemala and the country is the only member that still has official ties with Taiwan. The others – El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama – have all switched diplomatic recognition to Beijing in recent years.

Taiwan has since 1999 been one of five permanent observers – along with Mexico, Venezuela, Puerto Rico and Morocco – at Parlacen.

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has called for Beijing to be given observer status. Photo: AFP
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has called for Beijing to be given observer status. Photo: AFP

But Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega on June 23 proposed in a motion that Parlacen cancel Taipei’s observer status and replace it with Beijing.

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