What Happened Taiwan has lost another in its dwindling stable of diplomatic allies. Late Aug. 20, Salvadoran President Salvador Sanchez Ceren announced that his country has broken off diplomatic ties with the self-governing island and will turn instead to mainland China. Although the move was anticipated by all parties, China likely timed El Salvador's diplomatic shift to coincide with the completion of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's trip to the Americas. Tsai's visit was meant to shore up ties with allies Belize and Paraguay and included landmark stopovers in the United States along the way. Why It Matters The United States has emphasized its ties with Taiwan as part of its strategy to counter growing Chinese influence in the Asia-Pacific . China, meanwhile, has been making progress in its effort to diplomatically isolate Taiwan on the world stage.