Honduras will seek ties with China, moves away from Taiwan

Honduran President Xiomara Castro announced on Tuesday that she will seek to establish diplomatic relations with China, which would imply a break with Taiwan. The change leaves Taiwan recognized by just 13 countries, within the million-dollar Chinese investment to gain recognition for her vision of “One China.”

The president pointed out on her Twitter account that she instructed Foreign Minister Eduardo Reina to start the negotiations and added that with this she seeks to “expand the borders freely in the concert of the nations of the world.”

Castro had assured during his campaign before the 2021 elections that if he won the presidency he would immediately open relations with the Asian giant, but his foreign minister qualified that position three months later.

In January 2022, Reina told The Associated Press that establishing relations with China was not a priority and he would continue to strengthen his ties with Taiwan.

The official then added that the relationship with Taiwan, as well as others that Honduras may have with other countries, were analyzed based on the benefit for the Honduran people and at that time it was concluded that there were no reasons to make changes.

In Taipei, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had “expressed serious concerns to the Honduran government. Our country has made it clear to Honduras on many occasions that Taiwan is a sincere and reliable cooperative partner for our allies. Honduras is requested to consider it carefully and not fall into China’s trap or make wrong decisions that damage the long-term friendship between Taiwan and Honduras.”

The Foreign Ministry summoned the Honduran ambassador, Harold Burgos, according to Taiwanese media. Burgos told the press that he was awaiting orders from his government.

Beijing welcomed the Honduran statement, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wen told a daily press conference.

“The fact that 181 countries in the world have established diplomatic relations with China in accordance with the one-China principle fully demonstrates that establishing diplomatic relations with China is a correct decision in line with the general trend of historical developments and the trend of the times. Wang said.

China claims self-governing Taiwan as part of its territory, capable of being controlled by force if necessary, and rejects most contacts with countries that have formal ties to Taiwan. It also threatens countries with retaliation simply for increasing their contacts with the Taiwanese authorities.

When Lithuania increased relations with Taipei in October 2021, China expelled the Lithuanian ambassador, downgraded its diplomatic ties and blocked trade with the Baltic country of 2.7 million people. Since then, Lithuania has closed its embassy in Beijing and opened a trade office in Taiwan.

It was not clear what had led the Honduran government to change its mind. But China, which is building a massive dam in Honduras, often uses trade and investment as an incentive, something it has done successfully in Costa Rica, Panama, El Salvador, Nicaragua and, more recently, South Pacific nations like the Solomon Islands.

Taiwan provides agricultural experts, vocational training programs and other forms of financial aid to its dwindling formal diplomatic partners.

However, budget constraints imposed by a democratically elected legislature prevent it from spending heavily on sports stadiums, conference halls and government buildings as China does.

China’s multibillion-dollar Belt and Road initiative has also offered developing countries ports, railways, power plants and other infrastructure financed with loans at market rates.

Losing Honduras would leave Taiwan with just 13 sovereign states with diplomatic ties, including the Vatican. In Latin America it also has relations with Belize and Paraguay. Most of its other partners are small, poor island nations in the Caribbean and South Pacific.

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