Short answer
China and Taiwan still compete for formal allies because Beijing treats each switch as acceptance of its one-China principle, while Taipei relies on its 12 allies to speak for it at the UN. Taiwan has lost 10 partners since 2016. Taipei accuses Beijing of using aid to win switches. Some analysts argue political leverage also drives decisions, and Honduras's review of ties with Beijing is read that way.
- What happened Taiwan's formal allies fell from 22 to 12 after 2016. Nauru was the latest to switch, in January 2024.
- Why it matters Beijing counts each switch as acceptance of its one-China principle. Taipei uses its allies as its voice at the UN.
- What is new On October 12, 2026, China sanctioned ministers from Paraguay and Belize, two Taiwan allies, and called it a warning to others.
- What to watch Honduras, which left Taiwan in 2023, is reviewing its agreements with Beijing. No decision had been announced as of late October 2026.
Last checked
Key facts
| Taiwan's formal allies | 12, according to Taiwan's foreign ministry (as of October 24, 2026) |
| Allies lost to China since 2016 | 10, according to ASPI |
| Most recent switch | Nauru, January 15, 2024; China called it its 183rd diplomatic partner |
| Aid Taiwan says Honduras requested | About $2.45 billion, per then foreign minister Joseph Wu |
| UN Resolution 2758 passed | October 25, 1971 |
| China sanctions two ministers | October 12, 2026 (Paraguay and Belize) |
Who still recognizes Taiwan?
Taiwan's foreign ministry lists 12 countries that have formal diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan). Most are small states. Seven are in Latin America and the Caribbean, three are in the Pacific, one is in Africa and one is in Europe.
The European ally is the Holy See, a sovereign entity whose status differs from the other allies. Eswatini is the only ally left in Africa.
Many governments, including the United States, keep unofficial ties with self-governed Taiwan and do not formally recognize it. The People's Republic of China claims Taiwan as its territory, a claim Taipei rejects.
| Region | Count | Allies |
|---|---|---|
| Latin America and Caribbean | 7 | Belize, Guatemala, Haiti, Paraguay, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines |
| East Asia and Pacific | 3 | Marshall Islands, Palau, Tuvalu |
| Africa | 1 | Eswatini |
| Europe | 1 | Holy See |
How did Taiwan go from 22 allies to 12?
The losses began after the Democratic Progressive Party took power in 2016 under Tsai Ing-wen. Taiwan's formal allies then fell from 22 to 12, according to Al Jazeera. Sao Tome and Principe was the first to switch, in 2016.
The pace was fastest in the first few years. Panama switched in 2017, and three more governments followed in 2018. Two Pacific states left in September 2019. Then came a slower stretch with one switch every year or two.
The most recent case shows how fast a switch can move. Nauru cut ties with Taiwan on January 15, 2024, days after Taiwan's presidential election. On January 24, China and Nauru resumed ambassadorial-level relations. Beijing called it a "resumption" and said Nauru was its 183rd diplomatic partner.
| Year | Switched recognition to Beijing |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Sao Tome and Principe |
| 2017 | Panama |
| 2018 | Dominican Republic, Burkina Faso, El Salvador |
| September 2019 | Solomon Islands, Kiribati |
| December 2021 | Nicaragua |
| March 2023 | Honduras |
| January 2024 | Nauru |
Why does Beijing care about a handful of small states?
For Beijing, recognition is a question of principle. It treats each switch as acceptance of its one-China principle and as part of isolating Taipei, according to the American Enterprise Institute. When Nauru switched, China's foreign ministry said the few countries still recognizing Taiwan were infringing China's sovereignty.
For Taipei, the allies serve a practical purpose at the United Nations. UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, passed on October 25, 1971, recognized the PRC's representatives as the only legitimate representatives of China and expelled "the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek." The resolution does not mention Taiwan by name. Beijing and Taipei disagree about what it means for Taiwan's status.
Because Taiwan has no UN seat, its allies are among the few governments that raise its case in the General Assembly. According to AEI, nine allies mentioned Taiwan in their 2026 UNGA speeches. Haiti, Guatemala and the Holy See did not.
Support from non-allies takes other forms. On September 22, 2026, eight democracies (the UK, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Poland and South Korea) issued a statement opposing unilateral changes to the status quo. In the US, the TAIPEI Act of March 26, 2020 says the US should consider altering its engagement with nations that undermine Taiwan. That provision is non-binding "sense of Congress" language, not a mandate.
Is it about money or politics?
Taipei mostly points to money. Recipient governments and some analysts point to investment and politics.
The money argument comes mainly from Taipei. When Taiwan ended relations with Honduras on March 26, 2023, its foreign ministry said the Castro government had demanded economic aid totaling billions of US dollars. Taiwan's then foreign minister Joseph Wu said Taipei turned down a request for about $2.45 billion.
In Nauru's case, Taiwan's foreign ministry accused China of using economic assistance to induce the switch and said Nauru had demanded "huge" amounts of aid from Taipei. These are accusations. Honduran foreign minister Eduardo Enrique Reina described his country's move as a matter of investment and pragmatism. The amounts China offered either country are not documented in primary sources.
Trade figures show how small the economic tie was for Taiwan. In 2022, Honduras exported $128.85 million to Taiwan, which was 0.03% of Taiwan's imports, according to the Foreign Policy Research Institute. It imported $63.16 million from Taiwan, or 0.01% of Taiwan's exports. For Taipei, the relationship's value was mostly diplomatic.
Analysts are split on which factor leads. Yao-Yuan Yeh told Al Jazeera: "Money. The price has to be right," and said Taiwan's ties are "more defined by pragmatism than by ideology." An October 2026 article in The Diplomat by Henry Large and Garrett M. Wright, headlined "The China-Taiwan Diplomatic War Is More About Politics Than Economics," argues that political leverage, not just "dollar diplomacy," drives recognition decisions.
The current Honduran debate fits the political reading. One analyst quoted by the Taipei Times called Honduras the country most likely to switch back to Taiwan and tied the motive to relations with the Trump administration.
Who is affected now, and why did China sanction two ministers?
Honduran shrimp farmers are one group that felt the switch directly. Shrimp exports to Taiwan dropped from over US$100 million in 2022 to US$16 million, according to the National Aquaculture Association, as reported by the Taipei Times. The industry says at least 95 farms closed and more than 25,000 jobs were lost.
Honduran President Nasry Asfura took office in January 2026 after campaigning on restoring ties with Taiwan, and he has ordered a review of agreements with Beijing. On June 25, 2026, China's foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Honduras was not in talks with Taiwan to restore relations, citing "clarifications" from the Honduran government.
Beijing is also applying pressure on current allies. On October 12, 2026, China sanctioned Paraguay's Communications Minister Gustavo Villate and Belize's Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca, according to Al Jazeera. The measures freeze their assets in China, ban transactions with them and deny them entry. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the sanctions were meant to penalize the two and warn others, and described them as "pawns" of the Taiwan authorities.
The sanctions target individuals rather than governments. That makes them a signal to officials in other allied states as much as a penalty for the two named ministers.
What to watch next, and what is not confirmed
We found no scheduled dates for decisions. The open questions are the outcome of Honduras's review of its agreements with Beijing and whether other allies face further pressure. ASPI's 2025 analysis named Haiti as the ally with "arguably the most precarious" recognition and Saint Lucia as the one "most actively hedging."
- No decision by Honduras to restore ties with Taiwan had been confirmed as of October 24, 2026.
- The specific amounts of aid China offered Nauru or Honduras are not documented in primary sources.
- Taiwan's total foreign aid budget for its allies has not been verified.
- We could not access the full text of The Diplomat article by Henry Large and Garrett M. Wright; the summary above is based on its headline.
- The exact dates of each switch from 2016 to 2021 come from outlet summaries, not official statements checked one by one.
FAQ
How many countries recognize Taiwan?
Taiwan's foreign ministry lists 12 countries with formal diplomatic relations as of October 2026. Seven are in Latin America and the Caribbean, three in the Pacific, plus Eswatini and the Holy See.
Which country was the last to switch from Taiwan to China?
Nauru cut ties with Taiwan on January 15, 2024, and resumed ambassadorial relations with China on January 24, 2024. Beijing said Nauru became its 183rd diplomatic partner.
Does the United States recognize Taiwan?
No. The US keeps unofficial ties with Taiwan. The 2020 TAIPEI Act says the US should consider changing its engagement with nations that undermine Taiwan, but that language is non-binding.
Does UN Resolution 2758 mention Taiwan?
No. The 1971 resolution gave China's UN seat to the PRC and expelled the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek without naming Taiwan. Its effect on Taiwan's status is disputed between Beijing and Taipei.
Will Honduras switch back to Taiwan?
No decision had been announced as of late October 2026. President Nasry Asfura has ordered a review of agreements with Beijing, while China's foreign ministry said in June that Honduras was not in talks with Taiwan.
Sources
- Taiwan MOFA – Diplomatic Allies
- Taiwan MOFA – Honduras termination statement
- PRC MFA – Nauru resumption
- govinfo – TAIPEI Act PL 116-135
- AIT archive – Res 2758
- ASPI Strategist – 12 partners left
- Al Jazeera – sanctions on Paraguay, Belize ministers
- Taipei Times – Honduras weighs shift
Figures change. Check the primary sources below.