Nicaragua "Seizing Taiwan Embassy Building, Will Hand Over to China"... Taiwan Protests

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Recently, Nicaragua, which severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan and established relations with China, announced that it will transfer the buildings and assets owned by the former Taiwanese embassy to the Chinese government. The Taiwanese government strongly protested, calling it a despicable act.

According to foreign media including the AP on the 26th (local time), the Nicaraguan prosecution stated in a press release that "all real estate, movable property, and equipment owned by the Taiwanese embassy in Nicaragua will be seized and handed over to the Chinese government," adding, "recognizing the 'One China' principle means that these assets belong to China."

Earlier, the Taiwanese embassy in Nicaragua hurriedly organized the embassy building and assets on the 10th following Nicaragua's severance of diplomatic ties and expulsion order, deciding to sell them to the Nicaraguan Catholic Church for 1 dollar. Since the Nicaraguan government ordered the withdrawal of Taiwanese embassy staff and their families by the 23rd, it was a formal sale but effectively a donation.

The Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 22nd that the asset transfer contract was finalized in the presence of a lawyer. However, upon learning of the donation, the Nicaraguan government seized the assets, claiming that the Taiwanese embassy's arbitrary donation of assets was illegal.

The Taiwanese government immediately protested. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan stated in a press release that, citing the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, "the premises, assets, and records of the mission must be respected and protected," and argued that "seizing or transferring Taiwan's former assets is illegal." It further urged, "The international community should jointly condemn the despicable acts of Nicaragua and China and assist the Nicaraguan Catholic Church in reclaiming ownership of the assets."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.