Photo: CFP

Nicaragua severed "diplomatic ties" with the island of Taiwan and later signed a joint communiqué with the People's Republic of China on Friday on the resumption of diplomatic relations. This is a heavy blow to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authority of Taiwan, which has been quite arrogant recently. It swiftly announced comprehensively cutting cooperation projects and aid programs with Nicaragua, exposing thoroughly its ugly intention of maintaining "diplomatic ties" with certain countries via money.

The US reacted strongly. US State Department spokesperson said in an utterly discomfited manner that the decision of the Nicaraguan government "cannot reflect the will of the Nicaraguan people." Many US lawmakers raised their voices quickly on social media platforms. Republican Senator Rick Scott clamored on Twitter, "Communist China's growing influence is a cancer in Latin America… The U.S. must oppose this intervention by standing with Taiwan & keeping up the fight for democracy across LATAM."

In 2020, the US passed the "Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative Act" (Taipei Act) in an attempt to intimidate the few countries not to cut "diplomatic ties" with the island of Taiwan. 

The US' latest reaction displays not only its anger, but also its sense of powerlessness. Nicaragua is located in Central America, very close to the US. But Washington failed to prevent Daniel Ortega from regaining power as the country's president through elections, nor did it stop the new government from taking the bright path of acknowledging there is only one China. This is the power of the tide of history.

The US is strong, but it cannot determine the choice of people in all countries, nor can it reverse the international community's strong consensus on the one-China principle. Even the US itself established diplomatic ties with the Chinese mainland and defines its relationship with the Taiwan island as "unofficial," how could it prevent the island's small "allies" from abandoning the shade for sunlight?

Since Taiwan regional leader Tsai Ing-wen assumed office, the island has lost eight "allies." Taiwan's list of "allies" has dwindled from 22 down to 14. Is there any other trend clearer than this? It is believed that everyone has a common anticipation: Nicaragua won't be the last to sever diplomatic relations with the island of Taiwan. Relations can fall apart at any time. Let the Tsai authority tremble in omens and rumors. 

Lithuania has been going against this trend, allowing the DPP authority to open a so-called Taiwan representative office on its own soil. Those who seem sharp and have played all its tricks often turn out to be muddleheaded. Lithuania coordinated with Washington to provoke Beijing, but does not dare to go way out of line. Therefore, the country repeatedly claims that it continues to adhere to the one-China principle. Its despicable performance of taking mincing steps on the Taiwan question contrasts sharply with Nicaragua's grand gesture of ending ties with the island of Taiwan. Nicaragua's just and bright manner has been fully demonstrated in such comparison. 

Information obtained by the Global Times shows that no economic conditions were attached to the resumption of ties. What Nicaragua made was a political decision. Similarly, when China established or resumed diplomatic relations with countries that used to be "allies" of the island of Taiwan in recent years, there were no economic conditions. 

China is one of the leading powers in the world in terms of comprehensive strength. Establishing ties with China brings sovereign dignity and substantial opportunities for economic cooperation. This alone constitutes sufficient attractiveness. The DPP authority's "cash diplomacy," which involves nothing more than splashing money to purchase "allies," is destined to be unsustainable.

The Chinese mainland's economy is more than 20 times that of the island of Taiwan, and the latter has lost all qualifications to engage in "diplomatic competition" with the mainland. It is only a matter of time before the island loses all its "diplomatic ties." 

Taiwan secessionism is a dead end. Relying on the US to seek "secession" is definitely not the way out. The US will continue to give the DPP authority an "IV infusion," encouraging some US allies to applaud Washington's cross-Straits policy. Radical parliamentarians in the West will also try to attract attention with radical words and deeds by milking the Taiwan question. But all those will simply be mirages in the desert for the DPP authority before they reach a dead end. 

The US cannot save the regime on the island of Taiwan that seeks "independence." The rapidly growing power of the Chinese mainland has already written an overwhelming answer to the future of the island. Any new moves by the US over the Taiwan question will be fiercely counterattacked by the Chinese mainland. If the US and the Taiwan island collude by breaking the bottom line, the mainland will end the Taiwan question by resolute use of force. The mainland has the determination and awaits them. No matter how the US plays the Taiwan card, the trump card is in the hands of the Chinese mainland, which will win to the last.