Aug. 22 (UPI) — The Central American Parliament, known as PARLACEN, has caused controversy by revoking Taiwan’s permanent observer status and granting it to China instead. This decision has drawn strong reactions from Taiwan, U.S. lawmakers, and praise from Beijing.
PARLACEN stated in a statement that the majority of votes agreed to China’s ascension as an Observer State of the Body, following a request made by Nicaragua to expel Taiwan.
In its explanation, PARLACEN justified the decision by stating that Taiwan lacks recognition as a sovereign state before the United Nations, rendering its observer status “illegitimate.”
PARLACEN referred to the 1971 U.N. General Assembly vote that admitted China as one of the five permanent members of the Security Council.
Taiwan has long pursued U.N. membership status, but its efforts have been repeatedly blocked by China, which views the self-governing island as part of its territory.
Tensions between the United States and China have escalated due to their differing stances on Taiwan, with the U.S. deepening its relationship with Taipei while China seeks to expand its influence globally.
Out of the six member nations in PARLACEN, only Guatemala recognized Taiwan as a sovereign state. However, even Honduras, which previously recognized Taiwan, switched to the “one China” policy.
In recent years, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic have aligned themselves with China over Taiwan, resulting in China severing diplomatic ties with nations that recognize Taiwan.
China’s efforts to isolate Taiwan are part of its broader push to increase its influence in Latin America, according to the nonpartisan Council on Foreign Relations think tank.
China has welcomed its appointment as a permanent observer at PARLACEN, considering it a reflection of the times and the acceptance of its one China policy. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin expressed China’s readiness to cooperate with PARLACEN based on the one China principle.
Taiwan, which had held permanent observer status at PARLACEN since 1999, strongly condemned the decision, accusing Nicaragua and other pro-China nations of succumbing to Beijing’s pressure and disregarding Taiwan’s contributions to the organization.
Lawmakers in the United States also expressed concerns about Nicaragua’s proposal to exclude Taiwan from PARLACEN. The House Foreign Affairs Committee issued a joint statement condemning the decision, claiming it undermines democratic values and regional security.
