Analysis: China steps in as US loses appeal in Americas

China is taking advantage of declining US influence in Central and Latin America to woo Taiwan's remaining allies in the region, analysts in Taipei said.

They said that Washington's historic sway in the region had helped Taipei fend off Beijing's diplomatic offensives in the past, notably during the Cold War.

But falling US influence and creeping anti-Americanism in countries such as Nicaragua and Venezuela, combined with China's surging economy, has now left several allies pondering where their allegiance should lie, they warned.

"In the past, the United States did not want its back yard falling into the hands of communists," said Liu Bi-rung (劉必榮), a political science professor of Soochow University.

"That factor, to some extent, was taken into consideration by the countries there as they evaluated their ties with Beijing. But no more," Liu said.

Central and Latin America have been a diplomatic battleground for decades between Taiwan and China.

Thirteen Central American nations recognize Taiwan.

"Now any country in that region is aware that if it is to play a regional role or develop its economy, it has to maintain some kind of connection with China," said George Tsai (蔡瑋), professor of political science at National Chengchi University.

Faced with a choice of Taipei and Beijing, "it has had to choose Beijing," he said.

China flexed its growing diplomatic muscle earlier this month when it blocked Taipei's bid to join the WHO on the grounds that it was "not a proper country."

What caused the most consternation in Taipei was that out of its 25 diplomatic allies, only 17 supported its bid.

Costa Rica, for its part, voted against it and Panama and Nicaragua abstained.

Duly alarmed, Minister of Foreign Affairs James Huang (黃志芳) filed a protest to Costa Rica and summoned its ambassador to Taipei.

Another worry for Taipei was that out of its eight Central American allies attending a meeting of foreign ministers in Belize last week, only Belize and the Dominican Republic sent their actual foreign ministers.

Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and El Salvador downgraded their representation to the level of deputy foreign minister.

Panama sent its ambassador to El Salvador.

"We regret that," foreign ministry spokesman David Wang (王建業) said.

The eight signed a communique pledging to back Taipei in the international community, a statement released by the foreign ministry said.

Soochow University's Liu said that the joint communique meant little and could not be translated into diplomatic support.

He said that some of Taiwan's Latin American allies were using the diplomatic tug-of-war between Taipei and Beijing as leverage.

Taiwan and China have frequently accused each other of using "checkbook diplomacy" to lure the other's allies in a long-running battle for diplomatic supremacy on the world stage.

Unable to compete with China's deep pockets, "time is not on Taipei's side," Liu said.