Taiwan Foreign Minister released a statement that Nicaragua is breaking diplomatic ties with Taiwan, and recognize China as the only legitimate government that represents all of China and Taiwan. The decision came after the US State Department called for democratic countries to ‘expand engagement with Taiwan’ on Friday. The Beijing administration defends Taiwan’s dependence on it, while Taiwan considers itself an independent democratic state, although it has never officially declared independence from China.

The number of countries that recognize Taiwan as the official representative of China fell from 21 to 14 after Taiwan’s leader Tsai Ing-wen took office in May 2016. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nicaragua stated that the country committed to the One-China policy.