The Heat: El Salvador establishes ties with China

The Heat

CHINA-EL SALVADOR PIC

El Salvador is the latest country to establish diplomatic relations with China.

The Foreign Minister of the Central American nation was in Beijing recently to sign a joint communique with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister, Wang Yi.

El Salvador hopes that its new relationship with China will provide an economic boost.

It is the third country from the region to sever ties with Taipei and establish formal relations with Beijing in just over a year—following Panama and the Dominican Republic.

Meanwhile,  the United States has criticized El Salvador’s decision and it has accused China of interfering in the affairs of a Western Hemisphere country.

China has responded saying the U.S. should respect the rights of countries to determine their own affairs.

To discuss:

  • Qinduo Xu is a senior researcher at the Pangoal Institution.
  • Remi Piet is a research fellow at the University of Miami.
  • Benjamin Gedan is a former South America director on President Barack Obama’s National Security Council.
  • Nicolas Albertoni is an International analyst on Latin America and Asia realations.

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