China or taiwan? The tricky dilemma of diplomatic recognition? The salvadorean experience

© 2021 Institute of China and Asia-Pacific Studies - National Sun Yat-sen University. All rights reserved.This article analyzes the dilemma facing Salvadorean President Nayib Bukele of whether or not his administration should recognize China or Taiwan. Based on the theoretical approaches of Asymmetric International Relationships and Peripheral Realism, we discuss the principle of nation-state sovereignty and how such notions of sovereignty come into play when small states wish to take autonomous decisions, as well as suggesting that the margin of action is limited by asymmetric relationships. It is in this way that we analyze how El Salvador maintained its autonomy by holding fast to its decision to recognize China in the face of pressure from the United States. It was only possible for El Salvador to maintain this posture however by making significant concessions on immigration to the US. The objective of this article therefore is to contribute to explaining the concept of sovereignty from the perspective of small states, a currently under-researched topic.