Florida Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R) is slamming Central America’s Parliament (PARLACEN), accusing them of embracing the Chinese Communist Party. The comments come as tension continues to rise between China and the United States.
As the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee Chairwoman, Salazar joined Committee Member Bull Huizenga (R) in releasing a statement after PARLACEN held a vote to expel Taiwan’s parliament and admit China’s parliament as a permanent observer of the organization.
PARLACEN is composed of six countries, which are Guatemala, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Honduras, El Salvador, and Panama. The collective aims to strengthen democratic governance, peace, and integration in the region. However, with their latest decision to embrace the Chinese Communist Party, lawmakers are denouncing not only PARLACEN but their decision to expel Taiwan’s parliament.
In a statement, Salazar unloaded on PARLACEN, saying that “yet again, we see the pernicious effect of the Chinese Communist Party’s friendship with socialist governments on Central America.”
“Expelling the free and democratic nation of Taiwan and replacing it with the Chinese communist dictatorship directly contradicts the Central American Parliament’s express goal of strengthening democracy and peace in the region,” she further commented, adding that lawmakers “want all of our peace-loving neighbors in Central America to know that the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee will always stand against Ortega and his socialist allies and fight for freedom and democracy in our hemisphere!”
PARLACEN released a statement, citing the United Nations’ 1971 expulsion of Taiwan in favor of China, adding that Taiwan is a “province of mainland China, which disqualifies it from participating as an independent country.”
So far, Guatemala is the only member of PARLACEN that still recognizes Taiwan whereas the other countries have broken off diplomatic relations with Taiwan in recent years.
Florida Senator Marco Rubio (R), in conjunction with Virginia Senator Tim Kaine (R), released a statement, condemning the decision. “Since 1999, Taiwan has served as a strong supporter in its role as a permanent observer of the Central American Parliament, encouraging good governance and economic development in our hemisphere.”
