El Salvador breaks ties with Taiwan

The flag at Taiwan’s embassy in El Salvador lowered for the final time on August 24, three days after San Salvador announced it would break ties with the self-ruled island. The central American nation immediately shifted to the People’s Republic of China, becoming the fifth country to cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan after President Tsai Ing-wen took office in May 2016. Only 16 countries and the Vatican formally recognise the status of Taiwan.