Anger in Taiwan, boasting in China in wake of Honduras switch

Honduras foreign minister Eduardo Enrique Reina Garcia, left, and Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang raise a toast following the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Photograph: Greg Baker/AP

Honduras’ decision to switch diplomatic ties from Taiwan to China has left Taiwan reeling, with accusations of “dollar diplomacy” being levelled at Beijing.

Honduras has for the last 82 years recognised the government in Taipei rather than Beijing. But after more than a week of negotiations, its foreign ministry on Sunday brought that to an end, announcing it had cut ties with the Republic of China (Taiwan’s formal name) and signed on with the People’s Republic of China.