China makes another move to expel Taiwan from Central America

China keeps pressing to expel Taiwan from Central America. Its latest move to this end is not just an issue of trade, but a matter of hemispheric security in a key region.

Earlier this month, China issued a not very subtle diplomatic warning to Guatemala: If they want to have greater trade with Beijing, they have to break relations with Taiwan “as soon as possible.”

The foreign minister of Guatemala, Carlos Martínez, said his country wants to get closer to China to develop trade relations. He also noted that they cannot “ignore the weight and power that China represents.”

After the unexpected statement by Guatemalan foreign minister, President Bernardo Arévalo stepped out to clarify the comments by pointing out that diplomatic relations are with Taiwan and trade relations are with China. The statement evoked precisely the line that other Central American leaders have taken in the past before rolling over and accepting the one-China principle.

President Arévalo's accession is perceived by communist China as a golden opportunity to establish diplomatic relations and crush Taiwan's alliances, including its expulsion from the Central American Integration System (SICA). Despite this, President Arevalo has shown a more moderated and democratic position, taking a different stand from other leftist-dominated countries such as Nicaragua and Honduras.

In this context, Taiwan's ambassador to Guatemala, Miguel Li-Jey Tsao, met with Guatemala's minister of defense, Henry Sáenz Ramos, and the army chief of staff, Carlos Medina Juárez. During the meeting, both delegations reaffirmed the strong ties of friendship and mutual cooperation on security issues. The Guatemalan parliament also issued a resolution calling to maintain diplomatic ties with Taiwan. 

Chinese leader Xi Jinping has been consistently promoting the one-China principle in Central America. Daniel Ortega's regime in Nicaragua has been his pawn and key asset for reaching this goal. The 16-year dictatorship promoted the expulsion of Taiwan from the Central American Parliament and finally achieved it after two years of work.

Taiwan has lost at least 10 of its international allies over the last eight years. It now has only 12 partners, of which Guatemala and Paraguay are the main ones. Foreign Minister Martínez's statements revealed that Guatemala could fall to the stratagems of the red empire — or at least its thinking about it.

China, the second-largest economy in the world, plays a catastrophic role for Latin American democracies. Its investments are plagued by corruption. Its projects damage the environment. Its low-paid jobs violate workers' rights.

The new move by China in Guatemala puts the sovereignty of Central America at risk. If we look in the mirror of Africa and Asia, we can see how, by using billion-dollar debts and infrastructure megaprojects, the communist giant claims rights related to the sovereignty of small and poor nations.

Regional security in Central America is also at stake. China develops an entire geopolitical architecture in Latin America that goes beyond business. The red empire is going after telecommunications, ports and strategic industries such as lithium, copper and hydrocarbons.

While Xi launches diplomatic arrows over Guatemala and promotes the “great advantages” for its trading partners, Taiwan condemns this coercive strategy to weaken the 89 years of friendship between the two countries.

The one-China principle has already been imposed in 183 countries, although some nations maintain cultural or commercial offices with Taiwan. However, this prerogative is allowed by China only in certain countries, and Guatemala does not seem to be eligible.

Between 2000 and 2020, China's trade with Latin America grew from $12 billion to $315 billion, according to the World Economic Forum. These figures are the poisoned candies offered on the imperial tray. Trade is usually the prelude to establishing diplomatic relations.

Although Central America seems to be just another brick on China's Wall, international leadership from the U.S. and Taiwan can and should make a difference. Time is of the essence. Democracy, security, prosperity and human rights are at stake.

Arturo McFields is an exiled journalist, former Nicaraguan ambassador to the OAS and former member of the Norwegian Peace Corps.