China officially reopens embassy in Nicaragua after Taipei ties cut

China has officially reopened its embassy in Nicaragua a few weeks after the two countries resumed their diplomatic relations.

The central American country cut ties with Taipei on December 10, saying, it "recognizes that there is only one single China".

Speaking at a ceremony marking the reopening of the embassy on Friday, Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Denis Moncada said, “You are welcome in our Nicaragua... with the certainty that both countries have ahead of us a future of successes and victories in our brotherly relations.”

Beijing welcomes and appreciates the right decision made by Nicaragua, said China's State Councilor and Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, in a virtual meeting with Moncada.

The new Chinese embassy will be under the orders of Yu Bu, who inaugurated it at the ceremony with Moncada and other officials including Laureano Ortega, President Daniel Ortega’s son and advisor.

“There is only one China,” the Nicaraguan government said in a statement announcing the change. “The People’s Republic of China is the only legitimate government that represents all China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory.”

With the resumption of diplomatic ties, concrete cooperation between the two countries has already begun and, so far, Nicaragua has received two shipments of the Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine donated by China.

In addition, Chinese businesses are already starting to look at possible cooperation in a wide range of areas, including trade, infrastructure, agriculture and mining, according to industry representatives.

Nicaragua resumes ties with China in new blow to US, Taipei

Nicaragua resumes diplomatic ties with China after breaking relations with US-backed island territory of Chinese Taipei (Taiwan).

Ortega established relations with China in 1985, but after he lost the election in 1990, Nicaragua recognized Chinese Taipei. Ortega returned to power in 2007 and was re-elected for the fourth time in December and decided to cut-off relations with Taipei.

Last week, Nicaragua seized Taipei’s former embassy and diplomatic offices, saying they belong to China. However, China’s new embassy is located elsewhere, and it is unclear what China will do with the Taiwan building.

China has spent decades encouraging Taiwan’s dwindling diplomatic allies to switch sides, including three others in Latin America in recent years including Panama, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic.

Nicaragua's decision on December 10 leaves Taipei with just 14 diplomatic allies, even as the island strengthens ties with multiple unofficial Western friends including the United States and the European countries.

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