- China has long sought to isolate Taiwan and has barred its partners from maintaining ties.
- Taiwan swiftly urged Honduras against falling into China’s “trap.”
- Taiwan has lost eight diplomatic friends since Tsai Ing-wen was elected president in 2016.
Taiwan risks losing one of its few formal allies, Honduras, as the Central American country seeks official relations with China.
Honduran President Xiomara Castro stated that the pivot intends to broaden the country’s foreign engagements.
Taiwan swiftly urged Honduras against falling into China’s “trap”.
China has long sought to isolate Taiwan and has barred its partners from maintaining ties with the island, which it claims to be part of its sovereignty.
If Honduras sides with China, Taiwan would be recognized by only 13 states.
It will also strengthen Beijing’s position in a region that has generally supported its adversary, the United States.
On Wednesday, China’s foreign ministry welcomed the Honduran leader’s statement and said it was willing to develop “friendly and cooperative relations” with the country.
China has sought to increase its global influence as its leader, Xi Jinping, consolidates control at home while recovering the economy after the devastating zero-Covid policy.
Taiwan has lost eight diplomatic friends since Tsai Ing-wen was elected president in 2016.
Ms. Castro, who takes office in 2021, said she had directed her foreign minister to develop official relations with Beijing, fulfilling a campaign promise.
The Honduran president did not specify whether or not relations with Taiwan will be severed. Yet, in January 2022, she stated that she planned to maintain those ties.
Several weeks before Ms. Castro’s declaration, her government announced that it was in talks with China to develop a hydroelectric dam. Honduras has received a $300 million (£246 million) loan from Beijing for a similar project in 2021.
“We ask Honduras to carefully consider and do not fall into China’s trap and make the wrong decision to damage the long-term friendship between Taiwan and Honduras,” the island’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
Ms. Castro’s move also comes before of Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen’s tour to Central American allies, which will include a stopover in the United States, next month, a move that is certain to exacerbate tensions between Washington and Beijing.
Ms. Tsai will meet with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy during her visit. To Beijing’s chagrin, she met Mr. McCarthy’s predecessor, Nancy Pelosi, in Taipei last year.
China has continued to push itself on the other side of the world as it charms Latin America.
David Panuelo, the outgoing president of the Pacific island nation of Micronesia, accused China of eavesdropping and seeking to pay local politicians to bring his country on board with Beijing. Mr. Panuelo made his concerns in a letter to Congress last week.
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