So, Honduras has turned its back on Taiwan, leaving Belize and Guatemala as the only 2 Central American countries with diplomatic ties to the little island nation! Honduras’s excuse for this dramatic, and I believe, erroneous decision, is based on improving its ailing economy. Who can blame a third world country if it decides to sell itself for a few pieces of silver to an authoritarian giant, abandoning a country that is a democracy, that is always swimming upstream to escape the fate of Hong Kong, and maybe can’t compete financially with its aggressor? Apparently these days, countries, like prostitutes, are selling themselves to the highest bidders. In fact, that’s an insult to prostitutes; they usually have good hearts, and remain faithful to their regular customers. I’m sure there are many who will disagree with this column, but deep down, it should bother them also.
Whenever a country like China offers you financial aid, it usually comes with a heavy price. Ask Africa, or some of those Eastern European countries who are drowning in debt, and unable to repay what they owe the PRC! Some African countries, seeing the folly of their decision to accept Chinese financial support, have simply kicked them out after realizing the bargain wasn’t worth it. The Chinese usually bring in their own workers, and definitely their own supervisors, to run whatever projects they’re sponsoring, abusing their hosts, calling their workers monkeys and other dehumanizing names. In some places they even have their own police forces to control their workers, and if possible, the locals. It’s a Faustian bargain, the likes of which has never been seen before.
Whenever you have to toe the line of your investor/oppressor, there’s no difference here between the two, you lose not only your national pride, but your moral authority to govern a populace that voted you into office. China is the worst bully in the world, much worse than Russia ever thought she was. I used to think of America as a bully, and to a certain extent she is, but not on the level that China is. With China, it’s either you’re with me or against me, whereas America will tolerate dissent from her friends and partners, most of the time. China is vindictive and thin-skinned and does not allow any opposition or contradictions to the way it operates, inside China, and with all those who have chosen to accept its tainted money. Tainted because it’s built on the backs of an oppressed people, and let’s not forget the Uyghurs!
Listen, there’s no difference between dealing with China in the way Honduras and other countries have decided to, and dealing with a loan shark. The vigorish will always be too high for you to be able to repay your debt. You will never feel sovereign, or truly free, knowing that you have to watch your p’s and q’s, and sometimes being forced to accept things that might not be in your country’s best interest! When you deal with the devil, you have to suffer the consequences, which are never positive, good, or helpful!
Belize is always seeking to improve its way of life, its standing in the world, its self respect. I believe that we should stay with the one that “brung” us here, Taiwan, and to not be beholden to a behemoth that will never have our best interests at heart! Uncle Sam doesn’t own us, not officially, at least. The People’s Republic of China would! In the end, it is always safer to stick with the devil you know, rather than the one you know not of! We are a small country, defenseless to the whims of the superpowers; the least we can do is to choose the right side, and stick with your friend, the one that has always had your back, Taiwan! Maybe Honduras will sell our Sapodilla Cayes to the People’s Republic of China!
“And what rough beast, its hour come round at last, slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?”— The Second Coming, W.B. Yeats.
Glen