No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsLatin AmericaTaiwan threatens legal action against Nicaragua over embassy 'seizure'

Taiwan threatens legal action against Nicaragua over embassy ‘seizure’

Taiwan on Thursday vowed to take legal action against former ally Nicaragua for “seizing” its embassy and making plans to transfer it to China after the Central American country switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing.

According to Taiwan’s foreign ministry, the Nicaraguan government “seized” its former embassy property that was already sold to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Managua after the two severed diplomatic ties earlier this month.

China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, has stepped up pressure to isolate the island internationally and Nicaragua’s switch left Taipei with only 14 diplomatic allies globally.

It was the eighth country to ditch Taipei for Beijing since Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016 as tensions between the two sides continue to grow.

Taipei condemned the government of President Daniel Ortega for its plan to transfer the property to Beijing, which has called the move “an act of justice”.

“Taiwan will pursue appropriate international legal proceedings to protect its diplomatic property and ensure that Nicaragua is held accountable for its internationally wrongful act,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.

It added that the seizure “is part of China’s explicit and aggressive intent to annex Taiwan, which seriously contravenes international norms and damages regional peace and stability.”

China vows to bring self-ruled Taiwan back into its fold one day, by force if necessary, and has ramped up sea and air military operations near the island in recent months.

Taiwan’s defence ministry has warned that military tensions with China were at their highest in four decades, after around 150 Chinese warplanes — a record number — breached the island’s air defence zone in October.

This year, Taiwan recorded incursions by more than 940 Chinese military aircraft, compared with some 380 incursions last year.

The Chinese defense ministry was quoted by state media People’s Daily as saying on Thursday that “the People’s Liberation Army dispatched more warplanes to routine drills near Taiwan island” without providing a figure.

Trending Now

Panama Farmer Receives Land Title After 60-Year Wait at Age 109

A 109-year-old Panamanian farmer has received the land title for the property where he lives and works—six decades after first requesting it from the...

Cosby Show Star Malcolm-Jamal Warner Dies in Costa Rica Drowning Accident

Malcolm-Jamal Warner passed away at 54 from an accidental drowning. He gained fame as Theo Huxtable on "The Cosby Show," playing the son in...

Keylor Navas Joins Pumas UNAM in Major Liga MX Transfer

Keylor Navas has agreed to become the new goalkeeper for Pumas UNAM, marking one of the biggest signings in recent Liga MX history. The...

El Salvador at Center of Controversial U.S.-Venezuela Detainee Exchange

Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele received the 10 Americans exchanged on Friday between Washington and Caracas for 252 Venezuelans who had spent four months in...

Panama Union Leader Saúl Méndez Goes into Exile in Bolivia

The leader of Panama’s main union, Saúl Méndez, accused of fraud and money laundering, left for exile in Bolivia this Saturday. He had taken...

Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly Vacation in Costa Rica with Baby

Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly touched down in Costa Rica for a family getaway with their three-month-old daughter, Saga Blade Fox-Baker. Photographers caught...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica