RFI interviewed Julio Raudales, a Honduran economist and sociologist, about President Xiomara Castro’s announcement to establish diplomatic relations with Beijing. ‘This is part of a trend of left-wing countries in the region, he explains.
Honduras joins the diplomatic side of countries such as Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua, as part of the ideological and economic agenda of Honduran President Xiomara Castro.
Unlike other Central American countries that have officially and abruptly announced their break with Taiwan in the past, for now, the Honduran president has only announced the establishment of diplomatic relations with Beijing. However, this alignment presupposes de facto recognition of only one China, the People’s Republic.
Why does Honduras break with a country that has historically been a friend and has had decades of relations? Why precisely now, in a context of war and blocs between the West and the China-Russia axis?
Julio Raudales, a Honduran economist and sociologist, has analyzed for RFI the motivations of this movement and its repercussions on political relations in the Americas.
“China is looking for sources of financing for megaprojects, since the country’s fiscal situation has been quite serious for some years. The current Honduran government is leaning to the left and has the support of a group of Latin American countries such as Venezuela and Cuba In this sense, this is part of a trend. Other countries have also broken with Taiwan, which is part of the agenda of the current government. It is the political and ideological pendulum: now it is tilting to the left. It seems that this is irreversible. Obviously, there is a majority of people who think that this is not the most appropriate decision at this time.”
What impact will this movement have on the political tableau of America and the world?
“In a context of war in Europe, a war that has also divided the world and will probably affect the relationship that we currently have with the United States, an ally that the whole world knows is on the side of Taiwan, this will have some repercussions. Above all When it comes to cooperation, China is the country’s largest donor. This colors the world political map a lot, especially when we consider that Europe is leaning more and more to the right. I hope that the president and her team have measured the consequences and benefits of this rapprochement with China, and that the positive elements outweigh the negative”.
If the break between Honduras and the democratic government of Taiwan is confirmed, the latter will only have 13 countries that officially recognize it worldwide. In response and to consolidate her few allies, the Taiwanese president announced an official visit to Guatemala and Belize next week.
