Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin urged the Guatemalan executive to make “a correct decision in line with the fundamental and long-term interests of the State and the Guatemalan people as soon as possible.” “There is only one China in the world,” the spokesman emphasized, recalling that the central government in Beijing is the only legitimate one for the entire national territory, including Taiwan.

Wang stressed that this “is the universal consensus of the international community” and “the fundamental premise and political basis for China’s cooperation with all countries.”

The spokesperson noted that 183 nations in the world have established diplomatic ties with Beijing, which he believes fully demonstrates that the one-China principle is the general trend of the times.

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo took office in mid-January and promised to end corruption and build relations with China.

In recent statements, Foreign Minister Carlos Ramiro Martínez said that Guatemala considers developing formal commercial ties with mainland China, but also maintaining existing ties with Taiwan.

There are still 12 countries with which Taiwan maintains diplomatic relations: Paraguay, Marshall Islands, Palau, Tuvalu, Haiti, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Belize, Guatemala, Eswatini and the Vatican.

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