Honduran President Xiomara Castro said her government will seek to establish formal diplomatic relations with China, which would effectively end ties with Taiwan and deprive the island of one of its few remaining allies.
(Bloomberg) — Honduran President Xiomara Castro said her government will seek to establish formal diplomatic relations with China, which would effectively end ties with Taiwan and deprive the island of one of its few remaining allies.
“I have instructed our foreign affairs minister Eduardo Reina to pursue the opening of official relations with the People’s Republic of China,” Castro said on Twitter.
In 2021, neighboring Nicaragua also broke off relations with Taipei and recognized China. Taiwan will have full diplomatic relations with 13 countries after losing Honduras, according to data from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
China views the democratically-ruled island as part of its territory and vows to bring it under its control, through force if necessary. Beijing vehemently opposes countries from having official ties with Taipei.
The Taiwan government, however, asserts the island is an already a de facto independent nation awaiting wider international recognition.
(Tweet translation: “I have instructed Foreign Minister Eduardo Reina to manage the opening of official relations with the People’s Republic of China, as a sign of my determination to fulfill the government plan and expand frontiers freely in harmony with the nations of the world.”)
Taiwan’s foreign ministry is aware of the Honduras situation and is trying to get more details, spokesman Jeff Liu said by phone.
Paraguay, the largest country by land area that continues to recognize Taiwan, is holding general elections next month. The ruling Colorado Party has historically has been pro-Taiwan, and a key driver behind not recognizing China.
–With assistance from Debby Wu and Cindy Wang.
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