We didn't try to extort Taiwan, says El Salvador

El Salvador has denied claims that, before it announced diplomatic ties with China, it offered Taiwan a large sum of money in order to maintain relations.

The Salvadoran president's spokesman said that Taiwan's allegations of extortion were "totally false".

Now four countries – Costa Rica, Panama, the Dominican Republic and now El Salvador -- of the SICA, the Central American Integration System -- have established relations with Beijing. The president of El Salvador, Salvador Sánchez said that the new relation with China will produce "great benefits" to his country.