China is stone in US Central American shoe

The US government has called off a meeting of foreign ministers and senior security officials from the member countries of the Alliance for Prosperity of the Northern Triangle of Central America.

The cancellation happened just when the US was recalling its ambassadors from the Dominican Republic, Panama and El Salvador, all three of which recently broke diplomatic relations with Taiwan and established them with China.

The call for consultations of the envoys because of their relationship with China has been criticized as an example of US "big stick" diplomacy that has concerned business leaders in the countries concerned over the potential for strained economic relations.