A total of 91 Nicaraguan students in Taiwan face “an uncertain future” after the Daniel Ortega regime severed diplomatic relations with the island and recognized the People’s Republic of China as a “legitimate government,” reported the Central Taiwan News Agency (CNA, for its acronym in English).
The information, which cites the Taiwanese Ministry of Education, explains that 53 of the 91 students had received scholarships from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the rest are recipients of scholarships funded by the Taiwan International Corporation and Development Fund (Taiwan ICDF ).
MOFA said last Saturday that it has yet to decide whether to suspend scholarships for Nicaraguan students. But in recent similar diplomatic divisions, MOFA and the Taiwan ICDF have withdrawn all scholarships for students from countries that have severed ties with Taiwan.
Taiwan’s state-owned Central News Agency (CNA) announced that National Cheng Kung University will continue to provide assistance to ten Nicaraguan students, at least until August next year.
Meanwhile, the National Taiwan University (NTU), the National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) and the National Chengchi University (NCCU) expressed that “they will help with issues such as financing and part-time jobs for Nicaraguan students studying in Taiwan. ”, Reported the agency.
The Taiwanese Ministry of Education also pointed out that the economic situation of Nicaraguan students will probably be affected, but “the decisions of the competent authority will be respected,” adding that there are no Taiwanese students in Nicaragua.
The break with Nicaragua
After the break with Nicaragua, the Government of Taiwan called the staff of its embassy and technical mission in this country. At the same time, he regretted the “contempt” for the long friendship between the two peoples by the Government of Daniel Ortega.
The Nicaraguan president justified his decision to change recognition to Beijing, alleging the existence of an alleged “revolutionary twinning” and a historical political and ideological affinity with People’s China.
The termination of diplomatic relations between the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Nicaragua leaves Taiwan with 14 diplomatic allies around the world, including several Latin Americans such as Guatemala, Honduras and Paraguay.
Since President Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016, Taiwan has lost eight diplomatic allies, namely Burkina Faso, Panama, Sao Tome and Principe, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, the Solomon Islands, Kiribati and now Nicaragua.
Historically, relations between Nicaragua and China or Taiwan have been intermittent, but since 1990 they have remained on the island’s side.
The Taiwan Scholarship Program
Since the Taiwan scholarship program began in 2003, 478 young Nicaraguans have benefited in order to collaborate in the training of high-level human resources. But with the breakdown of diplomatic relations, Nicaraguans will no longer be able to apply for a scholarship in that country.
Until a few days ago, the scholarship program allowed young Nicaraguans to apply for university degrees, masters or doctorates at universities in Taiwan. Even last September, the Embassy of Taiwan in Managua together with the Ministry of Education (MINED) and the Ministry of Youth (MINJUVE) selected 18 students to be part of the program.
In 2019, the Government of Taiwan canceled the scholarships of 15 students who had been selected for the program of the Taiwan International Development and Cooperation Fund (ICDF). Fact that the first secretary of the Taiwanese Embassy in Managua at that time, Eva Wei, affirmed that it was due to lack of funds for said program.
The Taiwan scholarship program was resumed in 2020, but with greater participation from the Daniel Ortega regime. The students selected then are the most affected at this time by the suspension of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
