Honduran President Xiomara Castro announced on March 14, 2023 that the country will establish diplomatic relations with China.

(AFP)

[Instant News/Comprehensive Report] Honduras, a friend of Central America, has recently changed its diplomatic relations with my country, and its foreign policy has shifted to support China.

It was another sign of China's growing influence in Latin America, sparking a geopolitical crisis.

According to expert analysis, China's silver bullet diplomacy is like drug dealers.

According to the Associated Press report, China has invested billions of dollars in Honduras for decades, including economic and trade investment and infrastructure construction.

Now, with tensions between the Chinese and US governments and geopolitical conflicts heating up, China's silver bullet offensive has paid off.

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The report mentioned that the establishment of diplomatic relations with Honduras was China's second diplomatic victory within a week.

Last week, Iran and Saudi Arabia resumed long-lost diplomatic relations thanks to China's mediation.

Honduran Foreign Minister Eduardo Enrique Reina (Eduardo Enrique Reina) said on Wednesday (15th) that the people of Honduras are grateful for the friendly relations with Taiwan in the past, but the country's economic ties with China eventually led to the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two governments. .

Honduras will follow in the footsteps of El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama, and the Dominican Republic in choosing to turn their backs on Taiwan.

The establishment of diplomatic relations between Honduras and China is undoubtedly a heavy blow to the Biden administration.

The U.S. is understood to have tried to bring the region into line with Taiwan's stance, but to no avail.

David Castrillon-Kerrigan, a China expert at Colombia's Externalado University (Externado University), said that "the United States is losing influence in Latin America."

According to David, the non-recognition of the Beijing government means "a missed opportunity" for Honduras alone.

David's analysis: "The United States is definitely weak in all aspects. There is no doubt about the economy, but the same is true for diplomacy, politics, and culture."

Some Central and South American countries, such as Paraguay and Guatemala, remain staunch supporters of Taiwan.

The Guatemalan government recently reiterated that it "recognizes Taiwan as an independent country with democratic values".

Over the past 20 years, China has continuously injected funds into Latin America and participated in major infrastructure, energy and space projects, gradually opening up diplomatic space in the region.

According to data from a US think tank, between 2005 and 2020, China’s investment in Latin America exceeded US$130 billion (approximately NT$3.9 trillion); China’s trade with Latin America has also increased significantly, and is expected to reach US$700 billion in 2035 (about NT$21 trillion) or more.

Large-scale investment is quietly becoming China's diplomatic power.

Taking Honduras as an example, the Chinese government earlier provided approximately US$300 million (approximately NT$9 billion) in funding to build a large dam in the central part of the country, and the Chinese company "Sinohydro Corporation" was solely responsible .

On the surface, financial aid is expected to have positive benefits for countries that have difficulty raising funds.

But June Teufel, a professor of political science at the University of Miami, worries that China's rise could have unwanted knock-on effects.

Tufel pointed out that China is using economic influence as a diplomatic weapon.

Tufel said: "Many countries in Africa and Latin America have been harmed by China's investment, which has caused these developing countries to borrow heavily."

Tufel also added that under normal circumstances, infrastructure can only be maintained and repaired by Chinese companies, and the long-term cost is very staggering.

"It's like a drug dealer saying to a potential customer 'the first dose is free,'" Tufel said. "China has managed to get another country to give up Taiwan, which is one of its long-standing goals of depriving Taiwan of what little is left. allies".